In June 2025, we conducted the first cohort of Nairobi Community Training on the human rights and legal empowerment of older people, targeting a diverse group of participants, including older people, community gatekeepers, civil society organizations, and youth. The training began at the AIC Nairobi Training Centre in Kibera Sub-County. The positive feedback and engagement from participants during our initial session set a strong foundation for the subsequent training held from July 28th to 30th in Embakasi Central Sub-County.
Both training cohorts were expertly facilitated by trained Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and covered modules on the following topics:
1. Human Rights in the Context of Older People in Kenya:
- Discuss history of human rights and key human rights principles.
- Identify and explain key international, regional, and national legal frameworks for the protection of the rights of older people in Kenya.
- Assess challenges in the implementation of legally-binding frameworks for the protection of older people’s rights in Kenya.
2. Ageing, Ageism, and Age Discrimination:
- Understand ageing, its stages, challenges and opportunities
- Enable participants to understand ageism and define and its forms
- Enable participants to understand the impacts of ageism
- Enable participants to recognize personal and societal behaviors and stereotypes that contribute to ageism
3. Family Law and Succession:
- Introduce participants to applicable laws governing family relations in Kenya.
- Discuss the law of succession and how it applies to property rights.
- Introduce participants to applicable laws governing matrimonial property
4. Paralegalism:
- Define a paralegal and the concept of paralegalism
- Outline the role of paralegals
- State the role of paralegals in supporting older people.
- Outline basic qualities and skills that paralegals need to possess in order to discharge their duties effectively and meaningfully
5. Criminal Law and Procedures as They Apply to Older Persons in Kenya:
- Help participants to understand criminal procedure and practice
- Improve participants’ understanding of the players in the criminal proceedings
- Improve participants’ understanding of the court hierarchy and their respective roles.
- Improve participant’s understanding of the concept of plea taking, bond & bail and the criminal trial process.
6. Alternative Justice Systems and Alternative Dispute Resolution:
- Introduce participants to Kenya’s formal justice system
- Explain the procedures applicable in the different justice institutions
- Enhance participants’ knowledge on procedures for filing civil/private law claims in the various courts
- Introduce participants to the concept of alternative justice systems
Overall, these training programs represent a significant step toward empowering communities to uphold and advocate for the rights of older persons. As we move forward, we envision expanding our reach and continuing to foster greater awareness and legal literacy among both older people and their advocates. Together, we can cultivate an informed community that recognizes and champions the rights of older people in Kenya.