Synopsis

As this film project is aimed at addressing citizens not only in
Kenya but in the whole region, a subject was chosen that is of major importance to all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the enforcement of Environmental Justice. Although many countries in the region recognize the right to a clean and healthy environment as enshrined in Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the region faces grave
environmental problems and the continuous exploitation of natural resources keeps on undermining citizens’ environmental rights.

Kenya, as many countries in the region, explicitly anchors environmental rights in its Constitution. Journey to Justice follows two major landmark environmental law cases in Kenya, the Lake Turkana case and the Lamu Port case. The film features, among others, people of the affected communities, advocates for the cases, and high ranking representatives of the judiciary.

The project aims to increase citizens’ awareness and understanding of their constitutional rights. It aspires to inspire and enable them to become defenders of their rights. Thus, the film focuses on the various measures citizens must take to have access to justice and have their rights enforced.
The film was produced with the assistance of a renowned documentary filmmaker who specializes in educational, behaviour-change filmmaking. Our objective is to screen the film not only in Kenya, but throughout the Sub-Saharan region, in order to address one of the key hurdles to implementing the Rule of Law and Human Rights: citizens’ often insufficient awareness of their rights and how to access and achieve justice.

We are of the conviction that positive change with regard to the Rule of Law can only be achieved by getting a broad audience on board not only including citizens but also legal experts and policy makers. Film as a tool bears the unique opportunity of reaching out to these groups at large scale and of conveying a clear and impactful message for the sake of the promotion of the Rule of Law in the region and beyond.