Four decades of justice: How Fida helped Kenyan women win back their rights and dignity
From left: Christian Aid Country Director Janet Ngombalu, Come Together Widows and Orphans Organisation founder Dianah Kamande, Kenya Land Alliance Women rights adviser Mercine Milimu and Fida Deputy Director Janet Anyango during the premiere of the movie Widow Champion at Prestige Cinemas in Nairobi on October 23, 2025.
What you need to know:
- For 40 years, Fida-Kenya has stood as a pillar of justice for women and children. From humble beginnings in Nairobi to a nationwide movement, it has offered legal aid, mediation, and psychosocial support to millions—turning despair into dignity.
- Through its Access to Justice Programme, it has helped millions navigate legal systems once closed to them, championing gender-responsive laws and reforms.
- As Fida-Kenya celebrates its 40th anniversary, its legacy shines through the lives it has changed—from widows reclaiming land to mothers finding peace in mediation. The journey reflects resilience, compassion, and the enduring power of women’s solidarity.
For 18 years, a widow in Busia waged a lonely battle for her rightful share of her father’s land. Each court appearance tested her faith as her siblings relentlessly blocked her quest for justice. Exhausted and ready to give up, she made one final attempt—turning to the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) Kenya.
With Fida’s support, her fight finally bore fruit. “I began this case when I was a young woman. Now my hair is white, but I can finally settle the orphans my parents left,” she said, her voice trembling with relief.
More than 300 kilometres away in Narok, an elderly mother faced another painful injustice—being denied inheritance from her late daughter’s estate, a right forbidden under Maasai customs once a woman marries. Unwilling to accept this, she, too, turned to Fida for help.
Through Fida’s mediation, culture met compassion. The son-in-law agreed to provide his mother-in-law with Sh1.2 million for upkeep. Beyond the legal victory, the case reflected Fida’s enduring mission—blending justice with humanity. These are but two of the countless stories behind the organisation’s 40-year legacy.
Founded in 1985, Fida-Kenya began as a dream—one woman’s belief that justice should never depend on wealth. In 1977, after representing a widow in the landmark Rufus Ngethe Munyua case, advocate Lilian Mwaura saw how easily the justice system could silence women. That moment planted the seed that grew into Fida. The first office was a single shared room in Nairobi, furnished with borrowed desks and fuelled by volunteer spirit.
According to Fida Executive Director Ann Ireri, the Access to Justice Programme has since transformed the lives of over four million women and children through legal aid, representation, mediation, and psychosocial support.
“Fida-Kenya has touched lives in every county, turning victims into victors, and silence into testimony,” Ann said during celebrations marking the organisation’s 40th anniversary. “In 2024 alone, we carried out 27 prison visits to support incarcerated women through legal education, counselling, and reintegration programmes—turning despair into dignity.”
That same year, over 10,000 clients were served, with an 80 per cent success rate in mediation and thousands more reached through the toll-free legal aid line. The Pro Bono Lawyers Scheme, established in 1997, now includes over 500 volunteer advocates who offer free legal representation.
These dedicated professionals have tackled cases involving sexual and gender-based violence, succession, matrimonial and labour disputes, custody, and land conflicts. Today, Fida operates from three regional offices—Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu—supported by 1,400 registered members, 500 volunteers, and 35 full-time staff.
The organisation also engages interns and consultants while implementing over 10 funded projects annually. Its network continues to expand, working with 24 community-based organisations, 26 male champions, 157 women’s rights groups, and 17 student leadership movements. Through these partnerships, Ann notes, Fida is strengthening local justice systems, advancing gender equality, and nurturing a new generation of women’s rights defenders.
Beyond individual legal victories, Fida has driven systemic change through strategic litigation and advocacy for gender-responsive laws and policies. It also empowers women through self-representation training, teaching them how to argue their own cases successfully. This not only reduces dependency but builds confidence and long-term empowerment.
By combining legal aid with psychosocial support, Fida ensures survivors of gender-based violence receive holistic care. Though often unseen, its work in mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and engaging informal justice systems has yielded profound grassroots impact.
“We have a 74 per cent success rate in mediation,” Ann said. “We also work within the Alternative Justice Systems framework to offer local solutions to local problems. Over 300 community elders trained in mediation now handle succession, family, and property disputes — though they refer gender-based violence and criminal matters to the mainstream courts.”
Board Chairperson Christine Kung’u reflects on the organisation’s journey: “What began as a handful of visionary women lawyers in 1985 has grown into a formidable national movement. Our members remain the heartbeat of Fida—offering their expertise and time pro bono to ensure no woman or child walks alone in the pursuit of justice.”
As Fida-Kenya celebrates four decades of service, its dream of building a permanent home for justice is taking shape. The organisation has acquired property in Karen, dubbed Nyumba Bora, where it plans to establish the Fida-Kenya Mediation Centre. “That dream became reality in March 2024,” Christine said. “From our first fundraising dinner in 1992 to the latest drives, we have raised over Sh70 million through corporate and individual support.”
As it marks 40 years, Fida-Kenya stands as a testament to resilience, solidarity, and the power of collective action—a living symbol that when women rise for justice, an entire nation stands taller.
