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A Global Ripple Effect: Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic Expands Access to Justice in Kenya with the Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan


Author: Arienne Calingo

Over thirty smiling people, a diverse group, pose in front of the yellow Africa Gospel Church Sekenani building. Its facade displays a red cross logo, "Africa Gospel Church" in purple, and mission objectives in red text.
Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan team at Sekenani Africa Gospel Church on Day 3 of the Caravan

Access to justice remains one of the most powerful pillars of the Notre Dame Law School Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC), directed by Professor Jimmy Gurulé. In partnership with Strathmore University—Notre Dame Law School’s partner university in Kenya—the EJC is creating what Gurulé calls a “global ripple effect,” extending the fight for human dignity and legal rights far beyond U.S. borders. Last semester, the EJC students joined the Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan, a grassroots outreach initiative that brings legal education, awareness, and services directly to communities living far from formal legal services and representation. The Caravan takes place every November and spans five days, reaching rural regions where residents often have little or no access to the legal system. This work will continue as an ongoing, annual commitment.

Three men sit in white chairs outdoors. An older man with glasses and a mustache wears a blue Notre Dame shirt, looking attentive. A younger man in a white shirt and black cap listens. Another man faces away, also listening.
Professor Jimmy Gurulé and Patrick Nzomo, director of the Strathmore Law Clinic, listen to a community member in Narok West.

In November 2025, Professor Gurulé and two third-year law students, Albert Kwon and Ava Moreno, traveled to Narok County, Kenya, visiting communities across the Narok East and Narok West sub-counties. Alongside members of the Strathmore Law Clinic, they listened to the stories of the Maasai People, educated residents about their legal rights, and conducted formal intakes of cases from individuals seeking assistance. Community members shared issues ranging from family and property disputes to gender-based violence and environmental concerns. The Caravan also assessed community understanding of the Kenyan Constitution and the legal protections it guarantees, and facilitated human rights training sessions to deepen legal awareness and answer questions.

Over five days, the team spoke with roughly 100 residents each day—many of whom had never received legal counseling in their lives. “In many cases, you can just see the relief when they leave these counseling sessions,” said Gurulé. “That was therapeutic in and of itself, to provide them some hope that their issues would be addressed.”

For several residents, one of the greatest barriers to justice is legal invisibility. With a Constitution that is only about 15 years old, countless Kenyans remain unaware of the rights they possess or how to assert them. Without that knowledge, they are vulnerable to misinformation, exploitation, and systemic inequality. The Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan helps change that reality. By offering one-on-one counseling, community education, and pathways to continued legal support, the EJC helps ensure that individuals are not only heard—but that they are also empowered.

A diverse group of people sits in a circle outdoors. A young man in a white tee and Nike cap listens. A bearded man in a black cap holds a dark book, speaking to the group including a serious-looking man in a Nokia shirt and a woman in a red patterned hoodie.
3L Albert Kwon meets with community members at Talek Community Christian Church on Day 1 of the Caravan.

Third-year law students Albert Kwon and Ava Moreno described their experience as “life-changing,” emphasizing how proximity—sitting with the Maasai People, listening to their stories, and helping them navigate the law—deepened their understanding of legal advocacy, access to justice, and human dignity in profound ways.

After their trip, Albert and Ava delivered a comprehensive presentation to the entire EJC class, reflecting on key takeaways, observations, and the legal issues the Caravan addressed. Albert shared, “I think everyone in the EJC at this point has been on at least one client visit. I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but the first expression, in many cases, is a face of relief, and it is somewhat a face of hope. It’s a feeling that I have never forgotten from my first client visit. For this trip, imagine seeing that same reaction possibly hundreds of times over the course of one week.”

A diverse group of women and children sit on grass outdoors. Many wear vibrant red, yellow, and blue patterned clothing. One woman feeds a baby. A student in a baseball cap smiles while conversing with a local woman, gesturing with her hands. Corrugated metal buildings are in the background.
3L Ava Moreno engages with community members in Narok West on Day 3 of the Caravan.

Ava recalled meeting a woman who volunteered as a translator for the Caravan. The woman shared that she was a survivor of female genital mutilation and that serving as a translator gave her the opportunity to receive legal education for the first time. She told Ava that she had never felt so empowered and encouraged the EJC to continue this work and reach even more remote communities so that others could understand their rights under a still-young Constitution.

“My biggest takeaway is that access to justice is so important and it’s never going to stop,” said Ava. “I think that woman really exemplified that this opportunity is so amazing, and we have to keep providing that access to justice with the same energetic and passionate outlook.” Her encounter with the volunteer translator reinforced the urgent need for education, advocacy, and sustained presence.

Eight smiling people, including a man in a green Notre Dame hat and a woman in an "ND Irish Law" shirt, hold a large check outdoors. The check is from Notre Dame Law School to Karuka Primary School for 129,000 Kenya shillings. Simple buildings under a cloudy sky.
Professor Gurulé, Albert, and Ava visit Karuka Primary School, where they presented a donation to support school repairs.

At the heart of this initiative lies another essential dimension: service beyond the courtroom. During their trip, Professor Gurulé, Albert, and Ava visited Karuka Primary School, where Notre Dame Law School made a donation to support repairs to the school’s water gutters. The Law School also plans to assist with future solar panel repairs. These efforts underscore that access to justice is not only about resolving legal disputes, but also about improving daily life, fostering human dignity, and strengthening community resilience.

At its core, the EJC in Indiana and the Strathmore Law Clinic in Kenya share a common mission advanced through the Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan: building life-changing human connections as lawyers and law students meet face-to-face with those denied access to justice, listen to their stories, and help them navigate the law with dignity and hope.

Notre Dame Law School’s fight for justice is not theoretical; it is lived, shoulder-to-shoulder, with communities around the world. It demonstrates real-world problem-solving, cultural humility, measurable social impact, and a commitment to ensuring that legal education serves and empowers communities far beyond the courtroom. The Strathmore Legal Aid Caravan serves as a powerful extension of Notre Dame Law School’s mission to “educate a different kind of lawyer”—one grounded in service, dignity, and global solidarity.