AG Dorcas Oduor and Bangbet Launch Mobile Legal Aid Centers to Bring Justice to Communities
By Peace Muthoka
Kenya has taken a significant step toward expanding access to justice with the launch of Mobile Legal Aid Centers, a collaborative initiative between Attorney General Dorcas Agik Oduor and corporate partner Bangbet. The project, unveiled in Nairobi and set to roll out first in Machakos County, seeks to deliver essential legal services to communities that have long struggled with distance, high costs, and limited support.
The launch represents a shift in Kenya’s justice system, which has often been criticized for being too centralized and inaccessible to ordinary citizens. By joining forces, the government and the private sector are signaling a new era one where legal assistance is mobile, practical, and shaped around the everyday challenges Kenyans face.
As the country’s first female Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor has championed a justice system that is both humane and inclusive. She has repeatedly emphasized that justice must exist beyond constitutional documents and courtroom walls. Her vision for the Mobile Legal Aid Centers is rooted in dignity, empathy, and the belief that no Kenyan should be denied help simply because support is far away or unaffordable. Under her leadership, justice is being reimagined as a service that comes to the people.
Each mobile unit reflects this commitment. The centers include two soundproof consultation booths, a legal documentation area, virtual court hearing facilities, solar-powered systems, and wheelchair-accessible structures. These features aim to ensure privacy, comfort, and accessibility. “These centers must become places where every Kenyan can be heard,” Oduor has said, underscoring her conviction that listening is the foundation of justice.
Bangbet, the key private-sector partner in the project, has played a central role in bringing the initiative to life. The company has funded the acquisition and conversion of the mobile containers, supported electrical and solar installations, provided interior furnishings, and equipped the units with ICT systems and virtual court technology. Beyond infrastructure, Bangbet has also contributed to public legal education, guided by its philosophy that “a stronger society begins with empowered citizens.”
At the heart of this initiative are the human experiences it aims to transform. A child caught in family conflict will finally have a safe space to share their story. A mother entangled in a land dispute will access reliable legal guidance for the first time. An elderly man in a remote village will receive mediation services without traveling for hours. These are the everyday realities the project hopes to change quietly, firmly, and with compassion.
After the Machakos pilot, the centers will be refined and expanded to all 47 counties. The rollout will be supported by State Counsel teams, pro bono lawyers, paralegal officers, and volunteers working together to extend justice to those who need it most. Observers say the initiative stands as a strong example of how public–private partnerships can address long-standing social barriers.
What began as converted containers has grown into a nationwide promise. Through AG Oduor’s leadership and Bangbet’s support, justice is breaking free from formal buildings and reaching the communities that have waited longest. The Mobile Legal Aid Centers are not just legal facilities they are a symbol of hope, dignity, and the belief that justice should travel to every Kenyan, wherever they are.
