The Nubian Rights Forum runs the Citizenship Paralegal Program to assist individuals from marginalized communities in navigating Kenya’s complex citizenship and documentation processes. Trained paralegals offer legal aid, guidance on application requirements, and support for obtaining vital documents such as national IDs and birth certificates. The program addresses systemic barriers to citizenship, empowering individuals to access fundamental rights and opportunities. It also advocates for policy changes to eliminate discrimination in registration processes, ensuring inclusivity and equity. By creating awareness and building capacity among communities, the program strengthens access to justice and fosters a sense of belonging for disenfranchised groups.
Activities
Use of radio for advocacy and outreach to encourage the community on the importance of applying for the different registration documents
The school program is a continuous program meant for empowerment and advocacy where the local schools are invited for a citizenship competition which entails debating within themselves with topics selected by the paralegals to make them do more research on the issue before arguing them in front of the panel of judges. The program also covers creative arts and essay writing/ composition in both primary and secondary schools.
All these are meant to empower and make them the ambassadors of citizenship in Kibra and it will enable them to advocate for themselves, assist others and also advocate for the future generation in our absence.
The paralegals will carry out outreach in chief Barraza’s, youth groups and also different stakeholders within Kibera whom we get invited whenever they have forums to at least empower the community on the importance of citizenship documentation.