Sunrise over Kianyaga, Kenya.
In this serene landscape, small-scale farmers make up most of the local population. Their primary legal challenges involve land ownership and succession, compounded by corruption within the Land Registry and the courts. Wealthier individuals can bypass obstacles through bribery, leaving poorer farmers with limited recourse. Even lawyers from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, a Canadian organization studying the impact of legal aid on local development, struggle against a system plagued by bribery, lost paperwork, delays, and incompetence.
Photo taken on December 4, 2014, by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Sara Moki with her children, Victor and Victoria.
A recipient of legal aid from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, Sara Moki is fighting a child support case against her husband. Working as a casual laborer in nearby rice fields, she strives to provide for her children and pay for their education. Although Elimu successfully won her case, enforcing the judgment remains a challenge.
Ciagini village, Mwea, Kenya. December 4, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Girl in Riagicheru village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
This village is one of the areas where the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre provides legal aid.
December 5, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Cicily Wariu, legal aid recipient, Rubingaci village near Kianyaga, Kenya.
Cicily Wariu, a great-grandmother of six, ties her hair as she heads back to work in the fields. At home, she battles to reclaim her father's land, fraudulently taken by a relative. With no means to pay legal fees, Cicily's trust in Kenya's judiciary system remains very low. The Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre is assisting her in this difficult case.
December 5, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Woman with child aboard a taxi, Kianyaga, Kenya.
In Kianyaga, small-sized sedans serve as taxis, often carrying up to seven passengers, excluding the driver, before departing to their destinations.
December 5, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Victoria, wife of Morris Moreigi Josia, in their kitchen, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Morris, a small-scale farmer and legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, faces a land dispute. In 1995, he bought land from a man who died soon after, and the seller's family refused to transfer the land. Morris has evidence that the land was fraudulently sold to a third party, with transaction paperwork dated years after the seller's death.
December 8, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Girl running across a soccer field, Kianyaga, Kenya.
A young girl runs across the soccer field, capturing a moment of playfulness and joy.
December 8, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Morris Moreigi Josia with his grandchild, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Morris, a small-scale farmer and legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, faces a complex land dispute. He purchased land in 1995 from a seller who died shortly after. The seller's family refused to transfer the land, and Morris discovered it was fraudulently sold to a third party with paperwork dated years after the seller's death.
December 8, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

William Njagimbanya with his wife in front of their house, Kiamwaghi village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
At 67, William, a mason and legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, is fighting to keep the land he received as part of a dowry. After the donor's death, the land was re-sold by the donor's family to the Anglican Church of Kenya. Elimu is assisting William in challenging an eviction order and proving his ownership. However, missing paperwork has stalled the case.
December 8, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Ian, grandson of coffee farmer Patrick Mugo, Kiandai village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Ian is the grandson of Patrick Mugo, a coffee farmer who received training on National Health Insurance Fund benefits from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre.
December 9, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Matthew Murai at his home, Kiandai village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Matthew, a legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, faces a challenge with the local land registry. The registry has recorded his land as smaller than its actual size, complicating the succession process. The office's uncooperative stance and corruption have forced Matthew to spend over 20,000 Kenyan shillings on witnesses and evidence in failed attempts to correct the discrepancy. His frustration with the bureaucracy is growing.
December 8, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Daughter of Susana Cirio helping with household chores, Kiandai village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Susana, a legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, is engaged in a legal battle against a bank attempting to repossess her father's land, which was used as collateral for a business loan. Due to unfortunate circumstances compounded by corruption and fraud, repaying the loan has become impossible, putting the land at risk of auction.
December 9, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Children of Aliketa Wanjira Kaguru in front of their home, Kiandai village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Aliketa, who received National Health Insurance Fund benefits training from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, benefited from her NHIF policy, which covered over 90,000 KSH ($1,000 USD) of her medical expenses for a mastectomy.
December 9, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Isabella Wamunyu Kori in front of her home, Mowenesi village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Isabella, a recipient of National Health Insurance Fund benefits training from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, benefited from her NHIF policy, which covered her knee surgery and allowed her to continue supporting her family. She also contributed to the GreenPower hydro projects by helping with land preparation for the dam and tunnels. With the projects now abandoned, she has turned to purchasing electricity from Kenya Power.
December 9, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Students at the secondary school in Mucagara, Kenya.
These students are at a secondary school that recently received a library donated by the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre.
December 10, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Students at the secondary school in Mucagara, Kenya.
These students are at a secondary school that recently received a library donated by the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre.
December 10, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Students at the secondary school in Mucagara, Kenya.
These students are at a secondary school that recently received a library donated by the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre.
December 10, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Boy flashing the "peace" sign, Kianyaga, Kenya.
A young boy expresses a message of peace with a cheerful gesture.
December 10, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Jason Ngondi Ndambiri in Kamagambo village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Jason, a legal aid recipient from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, discusses his legal case. His brother-in-law has excluded all of his sisters from their father’s will, and Jason is assisting his wife in challenging this decision in court with Elimu's support.
December 11, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.

Margret Wambogo in Murukuthu village, Kianyaga, Kenya.
Margret, a recipient of National Health Insurance Fund benefits training from the Elimu Impact Evaluation Centre, was a Mau-Mau supporter who endured detention, beatings, and forced labor during the fight against British rule. Following Kenya's independence, she received 300,000 KSH ($3,300 USD) in compensation from the British. However, much of this compensation was used to cover medical expenses not covered by NHIF after she broke her leg and was hospitalized.
December 11, 2014. Photo by Art Zaratsyan for Photographers Without Borders.