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By Dr. Kariuki Muigua, PhD (Leading Environmental Law Scholar, Sustainable Development Policy Advisor, Natural Resources Lawyer and Dispute Resolution Expert from Kenya), The African Arbitrator of the Year 2022, Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021, CIArb (Kenya) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 and ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and Author of the Kenya’s First ESG Book: Embracing Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) tenets for Sustainable Development” (Glenwood, Nairobi, July 2023).

In the last few years, the setting up of legal and institutional frameworks specifically meant to promote the growth and practice of international arbitration in Kenya has picked up. The Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration Act establishes the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) whose functions include, inter alia, to promote, facilitate and encourage the conduct of international commercial arbitration in accordance with the Act; to administer domestic and international arbitrations as well as alternative dispute resolution techniques under its auspices; to ensure that arbitration is reserved as the dispute resolution process of choice; and, to develop rules encompassing conciliation and mediation processes.

The NCIA is administered by a Board of Directors as provided for under the Act. There is also an Arbitral Court established under the Act, which court has exclusive original and appellate jurisdiction to hear matters that are referred to it under the Act. Its capacity to handle domestic and international arbitration requires to be constantly improved, and it can only be hoped that this potential will be exploited to its maximum in the years to come so as to prominently place Kenya on the global map of international arbitration. Despite the efforts by stakeholders in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and especially arbitration to invest in making Kenya a more receptive destination for international arbitration, the country still faces a number of challenges that have slowed down the progress. These include: real or perceived national courts interference; perception of corruption/ government interference; inadequate marketing of the country; inadequate capacity of existing institutions; and endless court proceedings, among others.

Enhanced Capacity

Kenya has qualified and experienced arbitrators who are arbitrating commercial disputes around Africa. Indeed, following the revival of the East African Community and the expansion of regional trade, the possibility of Nairobi becoming a regional centre for arbitration is very high. Therefore, the prospects of international commercial arbitration in Kenya are really promising. However, with the changing trends at the global scene, there is a need for the practitioners and the judges to stay abreast with what is happening. In addition, with the international commercial arbitration taking root in Kenya in recent years and the ever increasing institutional capacity, there is a need to equip students and practitioners with the basic knowledge in their quest for expertise in the area.

Marketing and Arbi-Tourism

The stakeholders in arbitration sector in the country can utilise arbi-tourism to market Kenya as a preferred seat and venue for international arbitration. Arbi-tourism (arbitration tourism) may be defined as the promotion of arbitration alongside tourism. Kenya is known globally for its tourism sector and thus, the stakeholders in the arbitration and dispute resolution sector should make use of this fame. While marketing Kenya as a tourist destination, there is a need for the ADR stakeholders to consider working with the ministry of tourism and all other relevant ministries to market Kenya as a friendly seat and venue for international arbitration. This could be done by providing incentives in terms of subsidized hotel and park rates for those who are in the country for international arbitration. The relevant government and private stakeholders should also take advantage of international conferences and seminar forums to market the country as a friendly and viable seat and venue for international arbitration.

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PUBLISHED BY THE LAWYER AFRICA

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