Africa Nazarene tops Supreme Court moot competition as CJ champions legal mentorship

The university emerged victorious after a competitive final round held at the Supreme Court

by JAMES GICHIGI

News15 November 2025 - 09:04

In Summary

Chief Justice Martha Koome reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to nurturing a new cadre of lawyers grounded in justice, ethics, innovation, and fidelity to the Constitution.
She said the competition reflects the Supreme Court’s broader vision of mentorship and public engagement.

Audio By Vocalize

Africa Nazarene University has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Supreme Court Moot Court Competition.

The flagship initiative aimed at mentoring young legal minds and strengthening the future of Kenya’s legal profession saw the University clinch the top spot.

The university emerged victorious after a highly competitive final round held at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.

Chief Justice Martha Koome reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to nurturing a new cadre of lawyers grounded in justice, ethics, innovation, and fidelity to the Constitution.

Speaking during the finals on Friday, CJ Koome said the competition reflects the Supreme Court’s broader vision of mentorship and public engagement.

She emphasised that opening the court’s doors to students is central to building a bridge between legal education and practical judicial experience — a step she noted is necessary for sustaining the country’s constitutional democracy.

Koome said the competition is designed not only to improve advocacy skills but also to demystify the court and enable young people to interact with the judiciary beyond textbooks and theoretical study.

“Your engagement with these areas reflects an understanding that the law must constantly evolve to respond to emerging technological, humanitarian, and ethical challenges,” she told the students, urging them to approach the law as a dynamic instrument for justice.

This year’s moot centred on the theme, “Examining the Intersection of Human Rights Law, Administrative Law, Refugee Law and Artificial Intelligence.”

According to the Chief Justice, the topic was carefully aligned with the upcoming 14th World Conference of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges, scheduled to take place next week in Nairobi.

She described the theme as timely and globally relevant, noting that contemporary legal practice increasingly requires lawyers to understand and navigate complex intersections between technology, migration, governance, and fundamental rights.

Sixteen law schools from across the country participated in the competition, showcasing rigorous research, compelling advocacy, and diverse perspectives on evolving legal challenges.

Africa Nazarene University delivered what the judges termed an exceptional performance, earning them the top position. Kabarak University finished as the first runner-up, while the University of Nairobi placed second.

The Moot Court bench for the finals featured an eminent panel comprising Chief Justice Martha Koome (presiding), Supreme Court Justices Isaac Lenaola and William Ouko, and international judges Katelijne Declerck of Belgium, Catherine Koutsopoulou of Greece, and Maria Torres of the Philippines.

Their participation, Koome noted, underscored the judiciary’s recognition of the importance of global legal exchange and comparative jurisprudence, especially in areas touching on refugee protection, technology, and human rights.

Participants were challenged to demonstrate mastery in both the theoretical and practical aspects of law, preparing them for future legal careers.

As with last year’s inaugural moot, which preceded the SC@12 Conference, this year’s competition serves as a prelude to the IARMJ Conference, which was scheduled for 17th to 21st November 2025.