On Saturday, 2 May 2026, SMC Advocates (Swaleh Mwangi & Company Advocates) partnered with the Parklands Chapter of the Muslim Students Association of the University of Nairobi (MSAUN) to host a free legal aid clinic in Nairobi. For one day, advocates and law students sat down with members of the public to listen to their legal problems, explain their rights and point them towards practical next steps, at no cost.
The idea behind the clinic was simple: legal rights should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford a lawyer. Many people carry a dispute, a land question or a family matter for years because they do not know where to start. The clinic gave them a place to start.
What happened at the legal aid clinic
Visitors were met by volunteer lawyers working alongside MSAUN law students. Each person had time to explain their situation in confidence and receive guidance on it. The questions ranged from navigating ongoing disputes to simply understanding what the law says about their position. Where a matter needed further action, visitors were advised on the right office, process or professional to approach next.
The measure of success was not the number of files opened but the number of people who left with clarity, with answers and with a path forward.
Why free legal aid matters in Kenya
Article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya requires the State to ensure access to justice for all persons, and the Legal Aid Act, 2016 created a national framework for legal aid. Yet for many Kenyans the cost of legal advice, and uncertainty about where to find it, remain real barriers. Community clinics like this one help close that gap. They bring advice to people where they are, help resolve problems early before they become expensive litigation, and build public understanding of the law.
For the legal profession, pro bono work is part of the duty that comes with the privilege of practising law. For SMC Advocates, a firm with more than three decades of practice in Nairobi, giving time and expertise to the community is a natural extension of that commitment.
Mentoring the next generation of lawyers
The clinic was equally valuable for the students. Working beside practising advocates, MSAUN law students saw how legal knowledge translates into real help for real people: listening carefully, identifying the legal issue and explaining it in plain language. As the students themselves put it, this is exactly why they study law. Experiences like this shape lawyers who understand that justice is a service to the public, not only a profession.
Thank you
We thank the MSAUN Parklands Chapter for organising the clinic and for the energy its members brought to the day, the volunteer advocates who gave their time and expertise so generously, and every member of the public who trusted us with their questions. We look forward to supporting more initiatives that widen access to justice in Kenya.
Need legal advice?
If you have a legal question about succession and estates, property and land, disputes and litigation or Islamic law matters, contact SMC Advocates to speak with our team in Nairobi.