Njeri Maina leads pro bono legal support for Gen Zs at Kahawa public hearings

Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina and a team of fellow advocates have offered free legal services to young Kenyans as three days of public hearings commenced at Kahawa Law Courts on Monday.

The hearings, scheduled to run until Wednesday, have brought together young people whose rights and experiences are at the centre of the proceedings.

In a statement shared on her Facebook page, Maina said she was extending her legal support from the courtroom to the public hearings, reaffirming her commitment to defending the rights of young people.

“From standing with Gen-Z’s at Kahawa Law Courts to representing them at the public hearings; my commitment remains firm: their voices must be heard, their dignity respected, and their rights protected,” she said.

The MP, who runs Njeri Maina Law Advocates, said she and her colleagues had assembled to provide pro bono legal representation and would continue supporting the young people and their families beyond the current proceedings.

She added that their commitment to the cases should extend beyond public attention and what she described as the “sensationalization of these matters.”

“To every young person demanding a better Kenya: your voice matters. Your future is worth defending. We stand with you,” she said.

Maina has previously represented young people arrested during the 2024 and 2025 Gen Z and Saba Saba protests, providing legal assistance and helping raise bail funds for those detained.

In 2025, she raised concerns over the handling of protest-related cases at Kahawa Law Courts, arguing that the specialised anti-terrorism court was being misused to process cases involving protesters.

In September, the legislator confirmed the release of five Gen Z protesters who had spent 102 days in remand, crediting the defence team for securing their freedom.