Women defending justice
Across Kenya and Uganda, women inside prison are delivering justice for some of the most defenceless people. As trained paralegals, legal office leaders, and prison officers, they defend others, shape legal outcomes, and redefine what leadership looks like in the most unlikely places.
This is a community of women who lead with bravery, solidarity, and lived experience.
For International Women’s Day, we asked six of these women leaders to reflect on their work, their motivation, and the lessons they carry.
Jane Manyonge
Paralegal, Langata Women’s Prison
What gives you hope in your work with Justice Defenders?
Seeing lives transformed through our work manifesting in acquittals, reduced sentences, and cases resolved. It reminds me that justice is real and possible. I often think of our service as a candle that burns to light others. That light keeps me going.
What keeps you motivated on difficult days?
I began this journey from a place of fear and uncertainty. Today, I stand with confidence and purpose, equipped to defend the defenceless. That personal transformation continues to drive me forward.
What have you learned about yourself through this work?
I have learned resilience, humility, and the value of teamwork. We share both the successes and the setbacks with our clients, and that responsibility requires strength and discipline.
Is there a memory that makes you smile?
Joining Justice Defenders. It marked the moment I stepped out of my cocoon and began to grow into someone able to serve others with purpose and courage.
Sylvia Wanjiku
Paralegal, Langata Women’s Prison
What has changed most for you since joining Justice Defenders?
Before joining, I lacked confidence and had little understanding of the law. Through this work, I have gained both knowledge and self-belief. I now feel equipped to support clients and contribute meaningfully in legal matters.
What moment made you realise your work truly matters?
Seeing a client regain their freedom. That moment showed me that the effort I put in can directly change someone’s life and future.
What keeps you going on difficult days?
Prayer and hope for better times. They keep me grounded and focused, even when challenges arise.
What would you want to be remembered for through this work?
That I used what I had, where I was, to make a difference in someone’s life.
Joan Amati
Prison Officer and Paralegal, Thika Women’s Prison
What inspired you to become a Justice Defenders paralegal alongside your role as a prison officer?
While posted at Thika Women’s Prison, I learned about the legal education programme and applied. I had fallen in love with how paralegals assist incarcerated women in legal matters. The training equips us to advise clients from an informed point and brings professionalism into our work. I wanted to be part of that.
How has being part of Justice Defenders changed the way you see your work or the people you serve?
I have seen how legal support can transform lives. Women receive help with bail, sentence reductions, and resolving cases outside court. Many face delays. Some must pause proceedings to give birth or care for sick children. This work has shown me how critical it is to stand with them and ensure they are heard.
How does your role as both an officer and paralegal shape your work?
It puts me in the best position to help the defenceless. We interact daily with individuals in need, understand each other well, and they are able to open up. That trust allows us to guide them in the best way possible.
What has this journey meant for your own growth?
After the initial three-week training, I continued my education. It has deepened my legal knowledge and strengthened my ability to serve. This work allows me to use my position to create meaningful change for others.
Grace Layet
Paralegal, Luzira Women’s Prison
What gives you hope in your work with Justice Defenders?
Seeing people walk free and rebuild their lives. Their dreams were not destroyed by prison: they were delayed. Justice Defenders became a way forward for me, and as a Paralegal, I do not take that responsibility lightly. Every release, every restored case, is proof that this work matters.
What keeps you motivated on difficult days?
I remind myself that I am part of something bigger than my own story. With faith guiding me, I focus on the work in front of me. Even in difficulty, there is purpose. When others find hope through what we do, it strengthens my resolve to continue.
How has being part of Justice Defenders changed how you see yourself and others?
Leadership changed everything. You stop living for yourself and begin living for others. I have learned to serve with humility and mercy, to create an environment where others can work well, and to carry responsibility not just for outcomes, but for people.
What legacy do you want to leave through your work?
A legal office where people can think clearly, work with dignity, and serve effectively. A stable mind produces good work. If those who come after me can operate in that kind of environment, then that is the legacy.
Bancy Kamoto
Paralegal, Luzira Women’s Prison
What inspired you to become a Justice Defenders paralegal alongside your role as a prison officer?
I wanted to understand the law better and be in a position to help the people in our facility. Many do not fully understand their cases, and I saw an opportunity to support them in a more meaningful way.
How has being part of Justice Defenders changed the way you see your work or the people you serve?
It has changed how I see the people around me. They are not just prisoners: they are human beings who deserve dignity and respect. If rehabilitation is the goal, then how we treat people matters.
How do you balance discipline and compassion in your daily work?
Discipline and compassion are not opposites. Following orders does not mean we cannot understand or support others. For me, they work together. I maintain structure while still listening, guiding, and helping where I can.
What keeps you motivated, even on difficult days?
Knowing that there are people who depend on me to restore hope in their most difficult moments. That responsibility gives me the strength to continue, even when conditions are challenging.
Evalyne Atimango
Paralegal, Luzira Women’s Prison
What gives you hope in your work with Justice Defenders?
A single case won, a single life changed. These moments remind me that justice is not abstract. It is something real that we can deliver, even in small steps.
What keeps you motivated on difficult days?
Seeing defenceless people protected and supported. It shows me that compassion and fairness are stronger than fear, and that keeps me moving forward.
How has being part of Justice Defenders changed how you see yourself and others?
I have come to understand my own worth, regardless of what the world may say. I also see others differently. Every person deserves fairness, dignity, and to be heard.
What is one lesson that guides your outlook on life?
Justice is found in the quiet moments: listening, showing up, and standing for others even when no one is watching.
In 2025, our 55 women paralegals served 3,227 women and helped secure 1,983 releases. Each one a mother, a sister, a daughter returning home.
Behind each number is a life changed, a family restored, and a community strengthened.
When you fuel the defence, you stand with the women behind this work.