At least five women from Mombasa region will benefit from probono legal services in line with the Law Society of Kenya legal week and thanks to E.M. Mvoi & Company Advocates.
The firm owned and run by Elizabeth Mvoi – Mwasaru, an advocate of the High Court, has reached out to at least five women who are in need of legal advice but cannot afford the same.
Elizabeth, a resident of Kilifi and who was admitted to the bar in 2014, says her law firm will assist these five women with general probate and administration as well as family law.
Elizabeth’s law firm which is based in Mombasa, also offers legal services in other areas among them Land Law / Real Estate Law, Construction Law and disputes, Corporate and Commercial Law, Maritime Law and Family Law.
“There are definitely more women in need of legal aid for various matters, but my capacity currently can only allow that I work with a bunch of five at a time” says Elizabeth. She says the women will ideally book an appointment with her legal firm, after which she will plan meetings to begin the process of addressing their matters.
As an active member of Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Elizabeth says that her passion about women and the law, is the biggest driver on reaching out to women in need of legal aid from this region. She says women particularly from the North and Southern part of the Coastal region face a myriad of challenges around land and dis – inheritance.
“I started this in 2020, at the height of Covid 19, when I found that I had more time in my hands” says Elizabeth, “I would still reach out to women in batches of five given my capacity and take them through the law and their rights in law” added Elizabeth.
She has had to make use of the local administration, to help her identify genuine cases given the avalanche of requests she would normally receive. Initially Elizabeth focused on Kilifi County, but decided to move the project back to Mombasa County where her law firm is based.
According to Elizabeth, other challenges that women from this region face include early childhood pregnancies and school drop outs, children’s rights as well as matters around inheriting a deceased’s property. Most women will find themselves homeless after their spouses have died.
“We take these women through the entire process of getting the letters of administration as well as the transfer of the titles to their names,” says Elizabeth.
Access to justice remains a big challenge in this region according to Elizabeth, she says increasing the level of awareness will require the concerted effort of all players in the sector. She says in particular the Woman Representative and other elected leaders should be able to reach their residents at the lowest unit. ‘The politicians are able to traverse the county’s grassroots looking for votes, an important issue as their rights should be their priority as well,” added Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is quick to note that the judiciary is doing the best it can on this front, but that there is need to have more players, to compliment the efforts of the judiciary.
About Elizabeth Mvoi
Elizabeth Mvoi – Mwasaru is a Kenyan Advocate. She founded E. M. Mvoi & Co. Advocates based in Mombasa, Kenya delivering legal services in Land Law / Real Estate Law, Construction Law and disputes, Corporate and Commercial Law, Maritime Law and Family Law. She formerly served as a Board Member in National Construction Authority. Elizabeth previously worked as a Senior Associate Advocate in Oloo & Chatur Advocates – Mombasa and Legal Advisor and ISO Quality Management Representative (QMR) – Focus Container Freight Station Mombasa.
She is a part time lecturer at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology teaching Principles of Commercial / Business Law. She obtained her Law Degree from Kampala International University, Uganda.
