Our History

Social Justice League Kenya (SJL-Kenya) was founded in 2022 by a group of passionate young lawyers who witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by rural communities in Kenya. Touched by the injustices and inequalities they observed in their own communities, these legal professionals came together with a shared vision: to create an organization that would address the systemic barriers preventing women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups from accessing their fundamental rights.

Based in Ndhiwa, Homabay County, SJL-Kenya began as a small community initiative focused on providing legal aid and advocacy. What started as a grassroots movement has since grown into a registered Community Based Organization under the Directorate of Social Protection Services, housed by Kenya's Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

Our journey has been shaped by the resilience of the communities we serve and the dedication of our team and partners who believe in a more just and equitable Kenya.

Mission & Vision

Core Values

• Justice: We believe in equal rights and opportunities for all Kenyans
• Equity: We prioritize the needs of the most marginalized communities
• Integrity: We maintain transparency and accountability in all our operations
• Courage: We dare to challenge oppressive systems and structures
• Collaboration: We work with communities as partners in change
• Innovation: We develop creative solutions to complex social problems

Our Goals

1. To actualize, implement and measure existing policies and legislation on Gender Democracy to assess their gender responsiveness
2. To conduct Civic Education on social and economic opportunities whilst identifying opportunities for persons living with disabilities, youth and women entrepreneurs with regard to regional trade in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
3. To undertake legal and other forms of research with the aim of identifying issues and gaps negatively affecting gender democracy and transform such issues in ways that promote gender equality
4. To initiate policy and legislative changes in Gender Democracy through publications, capacity-building initiatives, stakeholder engagement and strategic litigation among other activities
5. To champion sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls
6. To promote the rights of persons living with disabilities by incorporating the gender perspective in any disability action through the implementation of gender and disability-sensitive laws and policies, among others
7. To enhance partnerships, collaboration and linkages with other persons, groups or organizations for the benefit of the community

Our Approach

Community-Centered Action: We believe that communities themselves have solutions to their challenges. Our role is to facilitate processes that enable communities to drive their own change.

Evidence-Based Advocacy: Our initiatives are informed by rigorous research and data collection, ensuring that our advocacy efforts address real needs and yield measurable impact.

Strategic Partnerships: We collaborate with county and national governments, non-governmental organizations, community leaders, and international partners to leverage resources and amplify our impact.

Intersectional Feminism: Our approach recognizes that different forms of discrimination intersect and compound, requiring solutions that address multiple layers of inequality simultaneously.

Our Impact

Since our founding in 2022, SJL-Kenya has:

• Provided legal aid and assistance to over 500 community members
• Conducted civic education workshops reaching 1,200+ women and youth
• Advocated for policy changes at both county and national levels
• Established partnerships with 10+ organizations working on similar issues
• Launched the Young Women in Politics 50:50 Campaign across four counties

Our Belief

"In everything that we do, we put the voices of persons living with disabilities, youth and women at the center of activities and conversations that affect their lives. We also believe in anti-oppressive partnerships and support for rural communities to drive their own change."

As Nelson Mandela once said, To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. This principle guides every aspect of our work at SJL-Kenya as we strive to create a more just and equitable society for all Kenyans.