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Center for Legal Support and Inmates’ Rehabilitation (CELSIR) is a Social Enterprize Organization focused on providing free legal support for indigent persons and victims of human rights violations through access to justice interventions.
CELSIR also provides psychosocial, legal empowerment, pre and post-release support to inmates to foster the readiness and willingness of prisoners to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives, upon release.
Support, Empower, Rehabilitate
Center for Legal Support and Inmates’ Rehabilitation (CELSIR) is a Social Enterprize Organization focused on providing free legal support for indigent persons and victims of human rights violations. Through our expert legal practitioners, paralegal staff, social workers, and volunteers, who believe in a fair and just legal system, we provide access to justice interventions to indigent persons. CELSIR provides rehabilitative support to inmates through offering programs, activities and services including vocational training and work experience; counseling; social re-integration coping skills; basic education; physical and mental health care, including psychological support; treatment for substance use disorders; therapy; life skills training; gender-responsive programmes; and family-oriented programming for incarcerated parents; etc. These programs, activities and services are aimed at fostering the readiness and aptitude of prisoners to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives, upon release.
CELSIR is committed to rehabilitating all prisoners without discrimination including those serving life sentences and on death row. We are dedicated to review the progress of life-sentenced prisoners during their imprisonment and may petition for their release (through petitioning the advisory committee on the power of mercy) or remission (through resentencing hearings), if appropriate, after the fixed minimum time as required by national law.
CELSIR’s work covers various criminal reform fields including human rights and advocacy, improvement of prison conditions, promotion of restorative justice practices, re-entry support, and increasing resilience and humanitarian action. CELSIR supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as:
CELSIR’s projects are diverse and range from short-term, small scale, stand-alone activities to long-term, and large-scale technical projects, implemented with partners.
CELSIR has adopted an integrated approach to procurement and project management. CELSIR endeavors to, whenever possible, engage in affirmative efforts to work with and/or award tenders to businesses owned by formally incarcerated citizens, small businesses, and women’s business enterprises.
Support, Empower, Rehabilitate
As I reflect on another year of service, I am filled with immense gratitude and a sense of purpose. This year is particularly special as I look back on a surreal and deeply moving experience that has left an indelible mark in us at CELSIR.
Recently, we had the profound honor of helping a man regain his freedom after 36 years of imprisonment under presidential pleasure. It was a challenging journey filled with legal complexities, but it was also a testament to the power of perseverance, justice, and the enduring human spirit.
Seeing Mr. Bor walk free, knowing that justice had finally prevailed, was a moment we will never forget. It reinforced our belief in the importance of our legal system and the critical role we, as lawyers, play in advocating for fairness and human rights.
This experience has been a powerful reminder of why we chose this path – to make a difference in people’s lives and to fight for justice, no matter how long it takes. As we celebrate this milestone, we are inspired and reenergized to continue in this important work.
Thank you to all our staff, volunteers, and partners who continue to support us in this journey. Your encouragement and belief in what CELSIR does is invaluable.
Here’s to many more years of striving for justice, one case at a time.
I remain Yours Sincerely,
Anne Munyua
Founder and CEO – CELSIR
Miss Munyua is the Founder and Executive Director of CELSIR. She is also an advisory member of the Board of Trustees of CELSIR, Nigerian Chapter.
Miss Munyua is a versatile Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with experience spanning over 10 years in human rights work and advocacy, strategic criminal litigation, among other legal practice areas. She is a Cornell University Centre on Death. Penalty Makwanyane Institute Fellow (2018), and has consulted for Reprieve UK, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), among other international organizations. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Moi University and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Nairobi. She is the founder of Oduor Munyua & Gerald (OMG) Attorneys at Law, LLP., which practice handles a host of capital defence claims, resentencing hearings, and criminal misdemeanor claims, amongst other services it conducts towards the advancement of the rule of law and the reformation of the criminal justice system.
Founder & Executive Director
Miss Munyua is the Founder and Executive Director of CELSIR, whose aim is to reduce incidences of recidivism by offering legal support and rehabilitation services to Kenyan incarcerated persons. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR), Nigerian Chapter.
Miss Munyua is a versatile Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with experience spanning over 10 years in human rights work and advocacy, strategic criminal litigation, among other legal practice areas. She is a Cornell University Centre on Death Penalty Makwanyane Institute Fellow (2018), Ithaca, New York, and has consulted for Reprieve UK, among other international organizations. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Moi University and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Nairobi. She is the founder of Oduor Munyua & Gerald (OMG) Attorneys at Law, LLP., which practice handles a host of capital defence claims, resentencing hearings, and criminal misdemeanor claims, amongst other services it conducts towards the advancement of the rule of law and the reformation of the criminal justice system.
Miss Munyua has consistently worked for the improvement of the criminal justice sector in her country at both the national level and county levels. She has also been at the forefront of the call for the abolition of the death penalty in Kenya, and has been at the frontline of various human rights campaigns to end extra-judicial executions by police, among other peaceable assemblies to demonstrate dissatisfaction to human rights violations. Anne is particularly interested in formulation of policies and other legislative texts that will bring transformative change to criminal litigation practice in areas such as proper treatment of offenders in Kenya, restorative justice efforts, plea bargain, alternative dispute resolution, etc. She provides pro bono legal aid services to indigent persons facing the death penalty as well as other offences that are not of capital nature.
Miss Munyua’s passion for advocacy in the criminal justice field was roused and compounded at the Cornell University Centre on Death Penalty Makwanyane Institute when she participated in its Fellowship in 2018 at Ithaca, New York. There, she met like-minded luminaries who were fervent campaigners against the death penalty and whose resolve was to influence penal reforms in the criminal justice system and ensure that human rights issues were keenly observed by all relevant stakeholders, including governments, legislators, judges, prosecutors, and the police. It is at this juncture in her life, that she founded CELSIR.
Miss Munyua is responsible for the management of the day to day activities of CELSIR. She is the main contact person for the organization. The Office of the Executive Director effectively provides overall supervision and general responsibility for all the services undertaken by CELSIR.
Member & Legal Support Affairs Coordinator (LeSAC)
Mr. Oduor is a member of the Board of Trustees and the Legal Support Affairs Coordinator (LeSAC) at CELSIR. He is the founder of Oduor Munyua & Gerald (OMG) Attorneys at Law, LLP. and has over 8 years’ experience as a fierce litigation counsel on criminal litigation causes, among other legal practice areas. His law practice handles a host of 
capital defence claims, and criminal misdemeanor claims, amongst other services it conducts towards the advancement of the rule of law and the reformation of the criminal justice system.
Oduor believes in the sacrosanct right of every human being. He has been at the frontline of various human rights campaigns to end extra-judicial executions by police, among other peaceable assemblies to demonstrate dissatisfaction to human rights violations. Oduor is particularly interested in effecting change through influencing transformative jurisprudence to the criminal litigation practice. He provides pro bono legal aid services to indigent persons facing the death penalty as well as other offences that are not of capital nature.
Oduor has participated in several projects aimed at reforming the Criminal Justice System in Kenya. As a Coordinator and Legal Team Head of CELSIR he is heavily invested in Correctional Centres Decongestions Projects. His advocacy has led him to be cited in several newspaper articles in his effortless zeal to serve humanity through his genius strategic litigation skills.
Member & Campaign and Mobilization
Miss Olonyi is a member of the Board of Trustees and in charge of Campaign and Mobilization at CELSIR. She is the founder and managing partner of Maureen Olonyi and Associates Advocates. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with experience of over 3 years. Her practice centers 
largely on criminal law, human rights and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, inter alia. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Moi University and is in the process of obtaining her master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Nairobi. She is also a certified Mediator from Mediation Training Institute, East Africa.
Miss Olonyi has been at the forefront of advocating for the right to life of convicted persons, sentenced to death. She has instituted several appeal cases to revert the death sentences to other forms of humane sentences through conducting resentencing hearings. She is at the forefront in lobbying for, and advocating for abolition of the death penalty in Kenya. Maureen is particularly keen on policy formulation that will promote treatment of convicted persons in a humane manner. She advocates for the promotion of the rehabilitation and transformation of the incarcerated. Notably most of these matters are handled by Miss Olonyi on a pro bono basis considering it is the lack of resources to secure legal representation that lands most of her clients the death penalty verdict as well as other harsh sentences.
Currently, Maureen works as our Campaign and Mobilization Head, CELSIR.
Member
Ms. Joke is a member of the Board of Trustees of CELSIR. She is a Nigerian national and a Criminal Defence attorney with over 10 years of experience. She is a Cornell University Centre on Death Penalty Makwanyane Institute Fellow (2018), Ithaca, New York.
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Wangare is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at CELSIR. She is an accomplished data science analyst, economist, financial officer, accountant and a budding procurement officer.
Sharon obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance, at Kenyatta University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) having 
successfully completed her Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board exams. Sharon also undertook a course in Data Science: R Basics | R Visualization | R Probability |R Inference and Modelling | Productivity Tools offered by HarvardX. She specializes in policymaking having partaken a course dubbed ‘Ideas for a Better World: Leading Change through Policymaking’ offered by the British Council in 2019.
Miss Wangare continues to add value to her professional carrier by taking on continuous professional education programs relating to her field. She also works with other titan organizations offering her virtuoso financial services.
Strategy & Innovations Director
Miss Ndindi is a Strategy and Innovations Director at CELSIR. She has a background in law, photography and research, which enhances her ability to present strategically innovative, objective, accurate, relevant and inspiring 
solutions for the organization. Miss Ndindi has worked with various local and international organizations to provide candid depictions of the struggles, successes and challenges institutions and individuals face in the country in their quest for decent and sustainable standards of living. She offers invaluable experience applicable in the quest for justice and protection of human dignity for incarcerated persons across Kenya.
Information technology Director
Mr. Manwa is an accomplished business technology expert with an engineering background and 10 years entrepreneurial experience in IT business. He has extensive experience in leadership, customer relations and service delivery. He has led small to medium size teams to deliver results for the business entities through designing 
and executing solutions that create customer value by use of engaged and high performing teams. He brings this expertise to CELSIR and writes programs, maintains networks, analyzes systems, and provides technical support and solutions.
Research, Editorial and Publications Director
Mr. Kariuki is an established and well balanced business person with a background in computer science. He is the Research, Editorial and Publications Director at CELSIR.
CELSIR’s beneficiaries are often treated with suspicion and their real life experiences are often a forlorn footnote in the eyes of the society. Isaac 
labors to bring to light in written form, their stories. He turns their lives and experiences from statistics and gives them a human touch that the public can identify and relate with. In addition to writing, he is a theology student who doubles up as an instrumental resource in pre and post release counseling sessions at CELSIR.
Having worked extensively with communities in the agricultural sector under the NARIGP (National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth Project), Isaac takes joy in helping groups better run their communal projects for better productivity and profitability. He therefore provides invaluable wisdom and assistance to formerly incarcerated persons in showing them how to build their lives anew.
Public-Relations, Brand and Communications Strategy Director
Ms. Mercy Chebet Kimetto is the Public Relations, Brand and Communications Strategy Director at CELSIR. She has a degree in Creative Arts, Film and Media Studies (Kenyatta University)
Mercy is the point of contact between CELSIR and its consuming public. She conveys the company’s information to the public in the most clear and effective manner. She has vast experience in internal and external communications, press releases, data management, and e-communications. She has 
incomparable skills in strategy planning, delivery, and channel planning. She manages and oversees CELSIR’s Social Media platforms. She is passionate about engaging in sustainability projects, provision of quality education opportunities to the vulnerable members of society, and doing work that leaves a social impact in the community. She is a communicator, par excellence. She has worked on several communications and brand strategy projects and programs that include press releases, website content, blogging, media and other online events which make her an invaluable member of the CELSIR team.
Religious Services, Mediation, Counselling and Wellness
Mr. Meli is the Director, Religious Services, Mediation, Counselling and Wellness, at CELSIR. He is an accomplished mediator, counselor and climate change activist. He is a holder of a 
Bachelor of Science (Bsc.) in Agricultural Economics, Master of Science in Environmental Economics, and is undertaking a PHD in Environmental Economics. Mr. Meli is also a holder of postgraduate certificates in mediation and counseling. He is also a Reverend at the African Inland Church (AIC).
Mr. Meli is a registered counselor with the Government of Kenya. He is committed to ensuring the mental wellness of individuals in need, and passionately provides counseling sessions to inmate/prisoners as part of the incarcerated persons’ rehabilitation and social reintegration program.
Programs and Operations Director
Ms. Annette Cheruto is the Programs and Operations Director at CELSIR. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with three years of practice, as an arbitrator, and a member of the Law Society of Kenya. Annette combines her comprehensive understanding of the law, commitment to justice and human rights, multilingual proficiency, and technology to provide exceptional service to CELSIR.
Throughout her career, Annette has held diverse roles within organizations honing her skills as a proficient project officer. With over four (4) years’ experience, in program and project value chain management/administration. She possesses a comprehensive understanding of designing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on programmatic financial aspects of international donor-funded projects.
Annette has actively been involved in planning and overseeing the execution of strategies to increase demand and utilization of judicial services. She is a dedicated humanitarian aid worker who has experience working with indigent, impoverished, and needy members of society. She possesses the knowledge and an in-depth perspective in humanitarian emergency situations geared toward developing sustainable community development programs.
Social Economic Opportunities Director
Miss Kanini is the Social Economic Opportunities Director at CELSIR. She is an ardent businessperson having conducted her businesses within and outside 
Kenya. She is an inventive thinker and explores creative ways to assist formerly incarcerated persons to obtain a source of living, post incarceration.
Our vision is to foster the willingness and ability of formerly incarcerated persons to lead law-abiding and self-supporting lives, thereby breaking the cycle of recidivism and promoting safer communities.
Our mission is to be a promoter for sustainable legal reforms in Kenya resulting in a more effective justice system hinged on ideals of human rights and dignity.
