Kabarak University scoops top position at moot court competition

Kabarak University will represent Kenya at the International ICC Moot Competition after winning the local moot competition.

During the competition, the students competed to resolve international business disputes.

They were guided by more than 30 professional mediators under the ICC mediation rules and their performance was evaluated by leading dispute-resolution specialists.

The ICC Commercial Mediation Moot Competition, which took three days, was officially closed on Wednesday at the African Nazarene University.

Strathmore University came second, Africa Nazarene University and University of Nairobi took third and fourth position, respectively.

The Dean School of Law at Africa Nazarene University Duncan Ojwang encouraged law students to take advantage of experiential learning.

Ojwang said the learners should take advantage of real-life practice and exploration of case studies as may be presented by moot competitions.

Gordon Ogola, who was the chief judge of the competition, said universities participating in the competition must have Alternative Dispute Resolution. 

"We are now actively encouraging ADR as an avenue that promotes the principle of self-determination in resolving disputes," Ogola said.

Kenya is the first African country to host the Pan-African ICC Commercial Mediation Moot Competition.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Court Annex Mediation deputy registrar Carolyne Kendagor hailed the adoption of ADR and mediation in Kenya’s legal justice system.

Kendagor said that this adoption forms part of the fulfilment of the ideals of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

The competition followed the second International Conference on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution that was hosted by ICC Kenya Chapter in September 2022, which discussed emerging trends in ADR and arbitration in Africa.

Other participating universities included Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Jomo Kenyatta University ofAgriculture and Technology and Daystar University.

 

(edited by Amol Awuor)