In America, when we are to appear in court we are allowed to have lawyers present for legal advice and to help defend us. In Kenya the accused must go to court alone with no one to assist them or back up their evidence. The prisoners at Shimo La Tewa maximum security prison in Mombasa are taking a stand and learning law to help defend themselves in court.
Douglas Owiya, a prisoner himself, was trained in law with other inmates and has created more than 3,000 successful appeals. They were able to do so by finding faults in the system. They expose poorly done investigative work by the police and unskilled rulings by magistrates. Some people even requested inmates instead of actual lawyers. These newly trained lawyers want to help their fellow inmates get out and get back on their feet. They want to change the method.
This is a start to a big change in the Kenyan court system. Although it is a small step, it is still a beginning to a better justice system. The problem of unfair court rulings and the lack of a lawyer needs to be fixed by more inmates being taught law and more lawyers being allowed present during trials. Not only can inmates be taught law but the people of Kenya. Action need to be taken towards authority for unjust punishments and accusations. Many reforms need to be put in place to improve Kenya's court system. Althought it will be a long process, they are slowly getting there one step at a time
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23239803
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