This mini documentary covers a Public Inquiry and a series of Legal Aid Clinics conducted by the Kenyan Commission on Administrative Justice–Office of the Ombudsman (CAJ) on access to legal identity documents in Northern Kenya. 

Undertaken in January 2024, these activities form part of DCAF’s support to CAJ in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), specifically SDG target 16.9 on the provision of universal legal identity by 2030. 

The right to legal identity is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya. Despite this, it is estimated that 100’000 people in Kenya are unable to obtain legal identity documents – such as birth certificates and passports – excluding them from accessing vital public services, including healthcare, education and justice and law enforcement systems.

The majority of affected persons belong to pastoral communities who are often forced to turn to informal networks for basic services, increasing their vulnerability to fraud, extortion, human trafficking and other crimes.

The Public Inquiry and Legal Aid Clinics sought to identify the barriers to accessing legal identity documents in Northern Kenya, the findings of which can be viewed in the documentary or in this report.