Plans to decentralise legal services in Kenya are gathering pace as the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) accelerates efforts to establish county-level offices and enhance public access to justice.
Attorney General Dorcas Odour says the move is aimed at ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of location, has access to timely and affordable legal support.
“Decentralisation of our services will continue apace by establishing offices across the country to bring legal services closer to Kenyans, with a goal of having a presence in all the 47 counties by the end of the year,” Odour said during a tour of Kwale County.
The AG said the initiative, dubbed Sheria Mtaani, is part of a broader push to promote equity in access to justice and empower communities through legal knowledge and representation. So far, the OAG has offices in 15 counties, with plans to expand to 32 more by December.
Among the services to be offered at the new county offices are civil litigation, registration of marriages, legal aid, and public trustee functions. Odour confirmed that the Kwale office, hosted at the KWAWASCO headquarters, will start operating immediately.
“Our presence here is not symbolic, it is functional. We are committed to ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of location, has access to quality legal services and support. Kwale is now firmly on our map for institutional growth,” she said.
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In addition to physical offices, the OAG is also undergoing a digital transformation to improve service delivery and streamline legal processes across government.
“We are also setting up a Sheria training institute to build the skills and ethics of justice actors, provide civic legal education, and offer opportunities for continuing professional development,” the AG added.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani welcomed the move, calling it a step in the right direction.
“Our discussion with the AG centred on strengthening legal structures, boosting efficiency in service delivery, and offering professional guidance to our county institutions through the decentralisation of the OAG,” said Achani.
She noted that Kwale would now benefit from better access to justice, enhanced legal representation, and greater institutional support.
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