Stories
August, 2026
Compassionate Justice
Faith had already gone through more adversity at the age of 23 than many individuals go through in a lifetime. She battled every day to survive and support her little child as an orphan without a solid home. Life was a never-ending struggle against poverty, uncertainty, and loneliness because she had minimal resources to sustain herself and no parents to turn to. Nevertheless, she never wavered in her resolve to raise her child and create a better future.
When Faith was detained in Kilifi and accused of stealing KShs. 9,000 (USD 70), that future appeared to vanish. The KShs. 20,000 (USD 155) bail fee was unachievable for a young mother who was homeless and having difficulty meeting her fundamental requirements. She was remanded in prison because she could not afford bail. It was a horrible event for Faith. She felt helpless and abandoned while imprisoned behind prison walls and cut off from her child. She was always concerned about who would take care of her child and whether she would ever be able to start over. As a young mother already struggling with the difficulties of being an orphan, incarceration seemed like another barrier she would never be able to get past.
During one of the most trying times of her life, Faith got support and direction from the Children and Mothers Diversion and Restorative Justice Program (Mending the Nest) while she was in custody. She went to the Justice Nest office where she told her story. As the team listened, they realized that her case offered a chance for an alternative strategy, one based on communication and reconciliation rather than fighting. Her boyfriend was the complainant in this instance. Following an examination of the facts, Justice Nest recommended that she seek mediation as a means of settling the dispute. The group made contact with the complainant and helped the parties communicate.
What transpired was a potent illustration of restorative justice. The complainant consented to appear in court and formally drop the lawsuit. The conflict was settled without the need for a drawn-out criminal procedure by mutual understanding, communication, and a readiness to proceed. After being released from prison, Faith was reunited with her child and given another opportunity to start over after nearly losing her life.
Our work at Justice Nest is driven by two interconnected programs that work together to restore hope and dignity: our Prison Paralegal Program (Bridging the Justice Gap) trains incarcerated individuals to become legal resources, mentors, and advocates for their fellow inmates, while our legal representation program offers professional legal assistance and advocacy for incarcerated women. Our Children and Mothers Diversion and Restorative Justice Program (Mending the Nest), which provides committed support, direction, and care for incarcerated moms to assist them deal with the particular emotional and practical difficulties of parenting while in custody, supports these initiatives. When taken as a whole, these initiatives guaranty that women like Faith find justice, hope, and a way out of prison.
Asha Saidi-Legal Aid Advocate
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