05/06/2026
How SCODA Began
SCODA (Solidarity and Capacity for Opportunity, Defenders in Action) was founded by a group of community volunteers who had been trained as paralegals by various organizations, including Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, ActionAid Kenya, and League of Women Voters, among others. Following their training, the paralegals were expected to independently provide legal awareness, human rights education, and access-to-justice support within their communities.
As they carried out this work, many faced resistance and backlash from some local leaders, administrators, and law enforcement officers who perceived their activities as a challenge to existing power structures or as interference with justice processes. Several members experienced intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of harassment while defending the rights of vulnerable community members.
In response to these challenges, the paralegals came together to pool their strengths, provide mutual support, and create a more organized platform for promoting justice, human rights, and community empowerment. This collective effort led to the establishment of SCODA, which has since grown into a community-based organization dedicated to supporting marginalized communities through human rights advocacy, legal empowerment, sustainable development, and social justice initiatives.
