pro bono & csr - africa legal network€¦ · pro bono & csr end year report 2019 3 african...

END YEAR REPORT 2019

PRO BONO & CSR

Managing Partner’s remarksThe Anjarwalla & Khanna family, which includes A&K Tanzania and ACH in Dubai, takes a broad view of its obligations to Kenya, Tanzania, Dubai, Africa and the world at large, and as such we are expected to give back in a great way. We take tremendous pride in giving of our time and resources to those less fortunate than us and to worthy causes that seek to serve humanity. We continue to foster this culture within the Firm.

It is my hope that as you read through this report you will get to see the efforts of our CSR & Pro Bono teams to give back to our community. I hope that this will make you as proud as I am of their achievements in the second half of 2019.

I would like to thank my partners Rosa Nduati-Mutero and Aisha Abdallah and their respective teams for the good work they continue to do.

Karim Anjarwalla

Managing Partner, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna

Patron, CSR CommitteeAt A&K we pride ourselves in our culture of giving back. We encourage our staff to not only give but to actively participate in the projects that we support. As a result we continue to see the impact that our efforts are making on people’s lives. We focus our projects around five main pillars: the Elderly; Children; Education; Health; and the Environment.

I am particularly proud to highlight the Firm’s contribution towards the putting up of an exclusive law library at Strathmore University, which was officially opened on 27 June this year. The Anjarwalla & Khanna Law Library is a marker of our commitment to use our resources to further the rule of law and enhance access to legal education. I would especially like to thank the A&K Partners for this contribution.

Overall, we are extremely happy to have been instrumental in bringing change to the lives of many through our CSR efforts in the second half of 2019. In particular it was a pleasure to be involved in projects such as the Africa Prisons Project and the Outburst Boot Cancer Challenge. We are committed to continue to do more. My deep gratitude goes to the members of the CSR Committee for their exemplary work and to the staff members who have participated in each of the initiatives.

Rosa Nduati-Mutero

Partner, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna

Patron, CSR Committee

Patron, Pro Bono CommitteeAs a firm we take on strategic Pro Bono matters with a high impact on our society. We are careful to ensure that the use of our time and resources will cause positive ripple effects rather than simply doing a number of ad hoc matters.

We focus on specific thematic areas where we believe we can match our expertise to real needs.

These themes are:

Enhancing democracy and good governance, enhancing the rule of law, taking on worthy causes where there is flagrant injustice, assisting charities and taking on matters that can leverage A&K’s unique position as a full service law firm and its relationship with ALN to provide a positive outcome.

Aisha Abdallah

Partner, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna

Patron, Pro-Bono Committee

PRO BONO & CSR END YEAR REPORT 2019 2


African Prisons Project (APP) APP was established 10 years ago by Alexander McLean at the age of 18 to provide dignity and justice to those in prison. Since its inception, the APP has gone on to support more than 10,000 people in prison communities, reuniting more than 5,000 families and contributed to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in Uganda and Kenya; with APP’s first female LLB graduate Susan Kigula leading 417 others in Uganda.

APP provides eligible inmates and prison staff with a full scholarship to become students at the University of London (UoL)’s Bachelors of Laws (LLB) distance learning programme. By offering direct and onsite legal training and practice under the supervision of APP employed advocates, they empower prisoners and prison officers to uphold their own rights and other inmates’ rights in a fair trial. The inmates have done a tremendous job given their circumstances, including serving over 2,500 clients (inmates) since 2016 resulting in over 100 acquittals just to name a few.

Members of A&K’s CSR and Pro bono Committees together with some members of staff visited Kamiti prison and had a very interactive session with the inmates who were students and graduands of the University of London remote learning program.

They also attended the graduation ceremony of the class of 2019 where 17 former inmates and prison wardens graduated. The ceremony was attended by, among others, dignitaries from the German, Australian and British High Commissions together with Kenyan and Ugandan Prison Service top officials.

A&K also donated KES 100,000 towards the production of a documentary by APP to showcase initiatives and opportunities to improve the welfare of prisoners, sensitize the community on the law and the need to promote sustainable re-integration of ex-prisoners. The goal is to champion positive re-integration of prisoners in the community and enhancing community understanding of the rule of law.

In addition, A&K stocked the Kamiti law library with various Kenyan legal books relating to civil law, criminal law, constitutional law, land law and the law of evidence.

4 PRO BONO & CSR END YEAR REPORT 2019

Shimo la Tewa Borstal InstitutionShimo la Tewa Borstal Institution (STBI) is a boys only facility that is meant to rehabilitate children who have committed offences but are too young to be placed with adults in regular prisons. The Institution is regarded a correctional facility where the young boys are given a choice of either undertaking vocational training courses such as carpentry, masonry, basic electrical work or formal education i.e. 8.4.4 system. The focus is more on rehabilitation and psychological counselling rather than corporal punishment and confinement.

A&K Mombasa earmarked the institution as this year’s Anchor Event. In this regard 24 members of staff gave of their Saturday on 9 November 2019 to visit STBI to interact with, encourage and motivate the children.

During the visit A&K donated books and desktops as well as toiletries to the young boys. Our very own Alfred Baya (A&K Mombasa) also delivered a powerful motivational talk on endurance and grit which was well appreciated and lauded by the boys and the A&K staff.


Outburst Boot Cancer ChallengeThe Outburst challenge is the first ever physical fitness-based support program in Kenya created for cancer patients, cancer survivors and their loved ones to assist them to stay active during cancer treatment and beyond. Outburst seeks to increase knowledge and better ways of safeguarding ourselves from cancer. This is done through a unique blend of a family-filled experiential wellness training mashed up with fun related activities and publicity.

The event entails both physically challenging family fun-filled games interspersed by a group of medical experts to facilitate check-ups in a relaxed and enlightening environment. The Outburst program also provides support, education and good will for cancer patients, survivors and those who love them.

Outburst holds an annual event usually on the first Saturday of October. The inaugural event was held in 2016. A&K’s CSR Committee agreed to partner with the organisers of the 2019 edition of the Outburst challenge. The challenge took place on 12 October 2019 and involved a 5 Km obstacle race split into a 2.5 km run and a 2.5 km obstacle race.

A&K sponsored 10 members of staff to participate in the event. This year’s proceeds will go towards creating a caring community for cancer patients through supporting the operations of Our Lady Thigio Hospice in their work of palliative care.


Bosco BoysBosco Boys Nairobi is a social responsibility forum operating under the Don Bosco Missions that rehabilitates, educates, provides basic needs, moral guidance and training to marginalised children (mainly street children). The organisation currently supports hundreds of children.

The A&K CSR Committee went to spend time with the children and had the chance to see the facilities at the rehabilitation centre which contains dormitories, classrooms and sports grounds. The A&K CSR committee further supported the society by presenting them with food items such as maize flour, beans and cooking oil.

Albert Kariuki (A&K Nairobi) shared his thoughts on the experience and said, “It was amazing to see the children being genuinely happy, comfortable and close with the working staff. This inspired us to continue supporting the home which gives not only a home but a place that gives them joy and peace.”


Chamazi Orphanage CentreChamazi Orphanage Centre is situated in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The centre is home to over 150 children and it is managed by Yatima Group Trust Fund under Mama Winifrida Lubanza. Yatima Group Trust Fund’s main mission is to care and support for the neglected and abandoned children at the Chamazi orphanage centre through purchasing beddings, clothes, provision of food and shelter.

On Saturday 20 July, 2019 a team from A&K Tanzania, working together with Voice of Orphans Tanzania, visited the Orphanage Centre. Voice of Orphans Tanzania is a non-profit, non-governmental charitable children’s institution, rescuing and giving care to orphans.

The team gave donations in the form of food stuffs and clothing. They also had opportunity to interact with the children at the Centre by playing various games, having lunch and drinks. A&K also recognises Aggrey Ernest and Samiath Mohamed who assisted further by paying school fees for one of the children who was yet to return to school due to lack of school fees.

Following our CSR event, Voice of Orphans Tanzania wrote to A&K Tanzania showing their appreciation for the support and gave the team Certificates of Appreciation.


Destiny Shapers Children’s Home Anchor Event 2019

Destiny Shapers Children’s Home is a community based organisation in the Korogocho slum area in Nairobi that aims to facilitate community empowerment.

Korogocho slum is the fourth largest informal settlement in Nairobi, after Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru Kwa Njenga. The slum hosts between 100,000 and 120,000 people on 1.5 square kilometers of land owned by the Government of Kenya.

Destiny Shapers regularly supports parents and guardians to be self-reliant while building a strong foundation in the early years of children so that they may be upstanding and valuable members of society. They do this through training/seminars, counseling and networking sessions revolving around various thematic areas mainly education, health and socio-economic empowerment.

A&K saw an opportunity to instill in these children the value of caring for the environment. This formed the basis of the CSR Committee’s 2019 Anchor Event based on the environmental pillar where we conducted a tree-planting exercise in Karura Forest with the children from Destiny Shapers. This was in a bid to play a part in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and based on the fact that nature-based solutions such as restoration of degrading forests, discouraging of deforestation and conservation of ecosystems often receive little attention in the prevention and alleviation of the adverse effects of climate change.

With 42 members of staff from A&K attending the event despite the morning rains in Nairobi on 23 November 2019, the children enjoyed and successfully planted a total of 500 seedlings. We also had an action-packed afternoon with fun activities such as sack racing, wheelbarrow racing and lemon-and-spoon racing where the children and members of staff battled it out for the first place.

A&K staff were also gracious in giving financial support by contributing KES 215,700 which went into purchasing donations including dry food stuff as well as stationery provisions for the children. We cannot thank the A&K staff enough for the support they showed and their willingness to spend the day with the children and spread the festive cheer.


Zana Africa FoundationZana Africa Foundation equips adolescent girls in Kenya with the tools they need to safely navigate puberty and step into their potential, while also leading global advocacy efforts to break the period taboo. The foundation is a pioneering voice in menstrual health management that leverages reproductive health education and sanitary pads as a combined intervention for women and girls’ empowerment.

A&K assisted Zana Africa by leveraging on its strong corporate and tax teams to provide sound legal and tax advice on the restructuring of the foundations operations. This had the intention of achieving optimal functionality between the foundation’s for-profit and its not-for-profit entities.

The advice on the restructuring helped Zana Africa better structure its operations to achieve its vision of creating a world where girls in East Africa live healthy, safe, educated lives while defining their own purpose-a world in which menstrual health management is recognised as a human right, and the onset of puberty as the most effective time to engage girls in a range of personal health decisions.


Tiny TotosTiny Totos Kenya is a social enterprise registered in Kenya that has been working since 2014 to help informal day-care operators in the lower income settlements to improve their services of providing safe, affordable and standardized day-care to pre-school children as their mothers work to earn a living. Tiny Totos currently works with an impressive network of over 60 day-cares in the Eastlands area of Nairobi.

The Tiny Totos Network has grown substantially serving over 3,000 children to date. By providing nutrition, training and small business loans, day-cares in the Tiny Totos network have been able to set up kitchens and sell nutritious meals to children.

A&K continues to provide legal support to Tiny Totos. Having assisted in its incorporation in 2015, this year A&K assisted in reviewing a health service agreement as well as providing on demand legal support to any legal queries that Tiny Totos may have in the course of its operations. Axis Kenya also continues to provide secretarial services to Tiny Totos.

A&K firmly believes in assisting Tiny Totos in its quest to elevate the quality of day-care services as a means to move the needle in early childhood development innovation.


Impact WaterImpact Water is a social enterprise that delivers reliable, low cost water purification technologies to schools.

Having set up operations in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, the Impact Water country teams work with local school administrators and government leaders to deliver safe water services. Impact Water also partners with manufacturers, other businesses, non-profits and impact investors to share risk and achieve scale.

The alignment of financial, social and environmental interests places Impact Water amongst a limited number of scalable, entrepreneurial initiatives which directly support global development priorities.

A&K assisted Impact Water by drafting and reviewing employment and consultancy agreements with respect to its Kenyan operations. Given A&K’s labour law expertise, we were best placed to ensure that Impact Water had legally sound engagements with its talent resources.

A&K and Impact Water believe that a small, thoughtful group of people can change the world by solving a key problem: access to reliable, large quantities of safe drinking water on a daily basis.


Lively MindsLively Minds is a UK based charity that has operations in Ghana and Uganda and has as its objective the improvement of early childhood education of children from humble backgrounds.

Lively Minds works to improve early childhood care and education for highly deprived children in rural Ghana and Uganda and has a vision of creating a world where all children have opportunities to develop their skills and talents and the chance to reach their full potential.

A&K assisted Lively Minds with employment law advice with respect to its current and future contracting arrangements from a Kenyan law perspective. This helped Lively Minds take into account the various legal implications and factored them into their contractual arrangements.

Our assistance went a long way in helping Lively Minds in achieving its belief that people can only break the cycle of poverty if they are empowered to develop skills, vision and drive to make improvements to their community. The solutions need not be complicated or expensive. Lively Minds endeavours to find creative, low-cost and practical ways, using local resources, to bring about lasting change and A&K is proud to be a part of that change.


Strathmore Law ClinicStrathmore Law Clinic’s vision is to facilitate access to justice by availing accurate legal information at no cost to all members of the public. To that end, its activities may be classed into: advocacy and outreach (projects). Through research and various publications, the Clinic contributes to the body of knowledge surrounding societal issues from a legal perspective.

On the outreach/projects part, the Clinic conducts one-to-many sessions geared at generating legal awareness. Some one-on-one projects such as Legal Aid Weeks at the Strathmore Law School campus have also been tackled.

The Clinic, in 2019, embarked on a program, termed ‘Sheria Mashinani’ which entailed recruiting 40 youth leaders from Kibera and bringing them to Strathmore Law School every Saturday for 12 weeks, training them on basic human rights, criminal procedure, labour laws, and the laws on business associations. The programme is a collaboration between Strathmore Law Clinic (SLC), CrimeSiPoa and Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).

A&K assisted the Strathmore Law Clinic in reviewing its learning material touching on commercial areas of law such as labour laws, tax, intellectual properties and company law. This program was facilitated by members of the Clinic with the assistance of A&K lawyers to empower the youth leaders with enough information so as to devolve the Clinic’s efforts to raise awareness in marginalised areas. The youth leaders were required to, conduct their own trainings within the slum areas they reside in with assistance from the Clinic so as to capitalise on the ripple effect the program can offer. A&K and the Clinic will run a follow up session to impart detailed and practical information to select participants of the Sheria Mashinani program.

On Saturday 2 November 2019, A&K was represented by Huldah Moraa and Martin Waigwa at the graduation ceremony for the 40 trainees who were beneficiaries of the Sheria Mashinani training Program.

The trainees are expected to return to their communities and apply their learned legal skills and knowledge to benefit their fellow community members.


Other Pro Bono Clients


First Half Matters Summary

Kimbia na AfrikaOn 7 May 2019, A&K participated in the Kimbia na Afrika charity event that took place at Starehe Girls. We were delighted to be joined by Augustine Lugonzo, Oscar Dennis and Eric Ogweno from the Kenya National Rugby Seven’s team who made it to the event despite being in training at the time ahead of their participation in the London leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. The players inspired and encouraged the girls to play rugby and also donated an autographed rugby ball to the school.

Faraja Cancer Support TrustA&K participated in the White Water Rafting Challenge organised by Faraja as an interesting way to raise funds. Faraja is a charitable organisation that supports those who are battling with cancer through the provision of complementary therapies, counselling and support groups. Faraja also provides financial support towards the medical bills of cancer patients who cannot afford the treatment. This year, four teams from A&K participated in the event and managed to raise a total of KES 760,700, which was over our KES 500,000 target and a significant amount above the KES 438,605 raised last year. Of the total amount contributed by A&K’s teams, Lake Turkana Wind Power Limited contributed KES 130,000 and sponsored the fourth A&K team.

Mirror of HopeOn 17 April, 2019 a team from A&K represented by Ikoha, Victor, Edwin, Esther, Jacqueline distributed uniforms for 34 children (contributed by A&K and Axis) to the Mirror of Hope where they also delivered a donation to a tune of KES 30,000 worth of food. Mirror of Hope is a community-based organisation dedicated primarily to serving AIDS-affected children in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Little Sisters of the PoorThe Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious institution for women founded in 1839 by St. Jeanne Jugan to care for the elderly poor of all nationalities and religious beliefs, around the world. In Kenya, they have Nairobi NYUMBA YA WAZEE in Kasarani, Nairobi (where A&K held its CSR Anchor Event in 2017) and another home in Mombasa.

A&K donated KES 42,000 to help finance the renovation of the Mombasa home for the elderly ahead of their Jubilee celebrations. The Firm was pleased to be invited to the event and we were well represented by Widad and Lucy from our Mombasa office.


Friends of HOREC Charity RunOn Saturday, 29 June 2019 a team from A&K participated in the second edition of ‘Friends of HOREC Run’ at the HOREC grounds in Mutalia, Kagundo Road. The theme for the event was ‘My Health, My Right’. HOREC (Hope for Orphans Rescue and Education Centre) is a non-profit, non-governmental charitable children’s institution, rescuing and giving care to orphans and vulnerable children infected and affected with HIV and AIDS.

Friends of Orphans KawangwareA&K has had a long-standing relationship with the Friends of Orphans Centre in Kawangware. After having the Nairobi CSR Anchor event at the Centre in the final quarter of 2018, A&K has given further donations to the Centre in 2019. Most of these donations have been in the form of foodstuffs.

The firm has also offered assistance in other ways. Recently, the Centre has had to relocate from its current premises and A&K has contributed towards a portion of their rent expense as the Centre continues to look for a new location for it activities.

Somalia NGO ConsortiumThe Somalia NGO Consortium (the Consortium) is a non-profit membership organisation of local and international NGOs based in Nairobi. The Consortium works to create an enabling environment for the efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian and development assistance to all Somali people. A&K assisted in advising on the double-taxation concerns raised by the NGOs forming the Consortium in relation to taxation of employment income.

Beyond Zero CampaignOn Sunday, 10 March 2019 at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, A&K was well represented in Beyond Zero campaign. The CSR Committee sponsored a number of staff members to participate in the Beyond Zero Marathon. The CSR Committee sponsored KES 25,000.00 and the Firm sponsored KES 15,000.00.

Kasyoka Ndiwa Women GroupKasyoka Ndiwa (Widows) Women Group (Kasyoka Ndiwa) is another one of our adopted charities that we continuously support. Kasyoka Ndiwa is a group composed of elderly widows within the 45-70 years age bracket and works towards to improving the livelihood and socioeconomic status welfare of the widows in the Ukambani region.

Due to A&K and Axis support, the women have ventured into a number of businesses, including honey harvesting and sale to generate income in support of their families.

Through its Pro Bono program, A&K is currently advising the group on the ways in which it can be registered.


Sapling Trust Foundation (STF)STF is a non-profit making organisation that runs a special needs school and centre therapy for centre for children with various neuro-developmental disabilities.

A&K’s a supports STF through paying school fees for at least one child whose family was not able to meet the cost. As one of the Firm’s adopted charities, we are happy to continue to have a long-standing relationship with them.

Safari DoctorsSafari Doctors Initiative (SDI) is a charitable organisation that provides health services to underprivileged communities in marginalised areas in Lamu County.

A&K, through its Pro Bono program, is assisting SDI in registering as a company limited by guarantee so as to enable SDI to improve its corporate outlook and enjoy the benefits accorded to a company as a legal entity under the Companies Act.

The Coast Charity Tour (Siobhan’s Concern)The Coast Charity Tour is a community development activity involving Siobhan’s Concern with the purpose of showing love to less fortunate children of Canaan Children’s Home in Mombasa County, and less fortunate residents of Msumarini in Kilifi County, by taking food stuff, clothing, toys, shoes, hand bags, books and utensils to them.

The coastal charity tour impacted 40 people, involved 4 Cars and 1 Bus and touched over 70 less fortunate individuals. A&K gave a cash donation of KES 42,000 that catered for food stuff donated during the tour.

Destiny Shapers KenyaDestiny Shapers Kenya is a Non-Governmental Organisation that runs a school for vulnerable and orphaned children in the Korogocho slums in Nairobi City by providing a feeding scheme at KES 30 per pupil, a mentorship programme, guidance and counselling and a child sponsorship programme.

On 24 May 2019, A&K was represented by Jeremy, Cynthia, Eliud and Esther at the school where they delivered donations to the tune of KES 50,000 worth of foodstuff.

Angel Welfare & Education Trust (AWET)AWET is a UK based charity that has been operating in Kenya for over 15 years. In 2017 Anis Dadu, AWET’s General Counsel and a solicitor based in the UK, approached a Partner at A&K for some initial legal advice. Since then, A&K has been supporting AWET by providing legal advice and assistance in relation to operating and running the charity in Kenya.


M-ShuleM-Shule is an adaptive, mobile learning platform that brings personalised educational tools to primary school students through SMS by leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver personalised SMS learning support in Math and English and then sharing the data and insights with the children’s parents and schools to inform better instruction and collaboration.

A&K assisted M-Shule by advising on optimal funding options and the legal and tax implications of a proposed restructuring of its operations in resonance with our firm’s belief in quality education for all.


The CSR Committee 2019Rosa Nduati-Mutero - Patron

Mona K. Doshi – Patron (Mombasa)

Ikoha Muhindi - Chairperson

Priscilla M. Onesmus

Esther Wambui

Albert Kariuki

Jacqueline N. Wamutitu

Fridah Ndinda

Anne Wanja Nyaga

Victor Nduse Mailu

Mary Kinyanjui

Edwin Baru

Jeremy Rodney Muyela

Rizichi S. Kashero

Jean Baptiste Blanc

Kajal Patel

Lucy Marie Achieng’

Irene K. Kambu

Zillah W. Moka

The Pro Bono Committee 2019Aisha Abdallah- Patron

Abbas Esmail- Chairperson

Christopher Ndegwa - Acting Chair

Mona Doshi

Rosa Nduati-Mutero

Elaine Clark Kehew

Mary Muthoni

Martin Waigwa

Lee Miano

Edwina Warambo

Maria Manzo

Ikoha Muhindi

Huldah Ateka

Morris Mbugua

Raymond Warioba

Jimmy Simiyu

Jacqueline Muithya

Yassir Admani

Levi Muchai

ANJARWALLA & KHANNA LLP Nairobi

ALN House, Eldama Ravine Close, Off Eldama Ravine Road, Westlands P.O. Box 200-00606, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

T: +254 20 364 0000, +254 70 303 2000 E: [email protected]

Mombasa SKA House, Dedan Kimathi Avenue

P.O. Box 83156-80100, Mombasa, Kenya T: +254 41 231 2848

E: [email protected]

www.africalegalnetwork.com/kenya

pro bono & csr - africa legal network€¦ · pro bono & csr end year report 2019 3 african...

Documents