A just society renders to members what is due to them: their rights accorded to them by the state’s laws. Unfortunately, even with rules like the Constitution of Kenya 2020, which was established to govern a just society, society isn’t always just.
The year 2024 will be etched in the minds of Kenyans for years to come, owing to the public welfare and human rights violations that triggered nationwide protests. Fortunately, as the cloud of an unjust society hung somberly over Kenyans, valiant young lawyers rose to the occasion, heeding the call to uphold the rule of law.
Kenyan lawyers, when admitted to the Roll of Advocates, take an oath to uphold the rule of law and the administration of justice. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is one avenue for challenging human rights and public welfare violations.
Many aspiring lawyers are keen on joining the legal profession because they want to be “A voice for the voiceless,” “A warrior for the weak,” and many other creative phrases depicting a hero/saviour. However, what is the actual experience of walking the talk of being a lawyer for the people?
Abner Collins Mango, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with four years of post-qualification experience, is among the lawyers for whom 2024 marked the genesis of a career trajectory leaning toward PIL. Mr. Mango sits on the Law Society of Kenya’s (LSK) PIL Committee. Additionally, he is representing the LSK in the Baby Pendo case, one of the biggest cases the society is currently handling.
Also, Abner was among the lawyers awarded during the LSK’s Legal Awareness Week Gala Dinner in 2024. The Gala Dinner, themed ‘Laws For The People, By The People’, was the first-ever Public Interest Litigation Dinner. Abner was among the ten lawyers awarded for taking up PIL matters on the LSK’s behalf and the 150 lawyers who made general interventions during the June 2024 protests. We spoke to him in November 2024 after the Gala dinner as he unpacked his experience on the “lawyer for the people” side of things.
Also recognized at the gala Dinner was Ruth Wanjiku Omari, an Advocate of the High Court and a Human Rights Lawyer at Lawrence Obonyo Legal Advocates, Diani. 150 lawyers who made general interventions during the June 2024 protests.
Abner and Ruth are two litigation lawyers with a bias for social justice whom we shall be featuring in our social justice theme this February. Additionally, we have insights on lawyers and social justice from Advocates from Article 19 Eastern Africa and Katiba Institute. So, if you’re passionate about governance, social justice, and human rights, watch this space for insights on how to chart your path in the social justice sector.
