Africa Decides: Sovereignty, Innovation & the Future of Dispute Resolution
5–9 October 2026 | Diamond Leisure Beach & Golf Resort, Diani, Kenya
The TAKUKA 2026 Conference, jointly hosted by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya Branch) and the African Arbitration Association (AfAA), is set to become one of the most significant Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) gatherings on the African continent.
Bringing together judges, arbitrators, mediators, adjudicators, legal practitioners, academics, policymakers, corporate counsel, government representatives, financiers, technologists, construction professionals, and business leaders, TAKUKA 2026 will provide a platform to shape the future of dispute resolution in Africa.
Under the theme:
Africa Decides: Sovereignty, Innovation & the Future of Dispute Resolution
the conference will examine how Africa can strengthen its institutions, modernize dispute resolution systems, promote investment confidence, and position itself as a preferred destination for resolving commercial and investment disputes.
Why TAKUKA 2026 Matters
Africa is experiencing unprecedented economic growth, regional integration, infrastructure development, and digital transformation. These developments are creating increasingly complex commercial relationships and, inevitably, more disputes.
The question is no longer whether Africa can resolve its own disputes—but how the continent can build world-class institutions capable of handling them efficiently, fairly, and independently.
TAKUKA 2026 seeks to answer this question by bringing together the people who are shaping dispute resolution across Africa and beyond.
Participants will engage in meaningful conversations on arbitration, mediation, adjudication, Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), investment disputes, technology, ESG, construction disputes, digital trade, and the future of ADR institutions.
Conference Highlights
Over five days, delegates will participate in keynote addresses, plenary sessions, expert panel discussions, networking events, and practical conversations covering the most pressing issues facing dispute resolution today.
Day One: Sovereignty and Africa’s Place in Global Arbitration
The conference opens by examining Africa’s growing role in international dispute resolution.
Key discussions include:
- Why African disputes continue to be seated outside the continent.
- Reforming Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
- The future of the AfCFTA Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
- Enforcement of arbitral awards across African jurisdictions.
These conversations will explore how African institutions can become more competitive while strengthening confidence among investors and users.
Day Two: Innovation and the Future of Dispute Resolution
Technology is rapidly transforming dispute resolution.
Delegates will examine:
- Artificial Intelligence in arbitration and mediation.
- Third-Party Funding in Africa.
- ESG disputes and natural resources.
- Institutional independence and governance.
- Digital trade disputes under the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol.
The conference will explore how innovation can enhance access to justice while preserving fairness, confidentiality, and due process.
Day Three: Building Africa’s ADR Ecosystem
This day focuses on expanding access to justice and strengthening ADR across the continent.
Topics include:
- The Singapore Convention on Mediation.
- Court-annexed mediation.
- Expert determination and negotiation.
- Hybrid dispute resolution processes.
- Women and diversity in ADR.
- Financing access to justice.
- Africa’s Alternative Justice Systems (AJS).
The discussions recognize that Africa’s dispute resolution future lies in embracing both modern ADR mechanisms and indigenous systems that have served communities for generations.
Day Four: Construction, Infrastructure and Dispute Avoidance
With infrastructure investment accelerating across Africa, delegates will examine:
- FIDIC contracts in Africa.
- Construction adjudication.
- Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Boards (DAABs).
- Government contracts and sovereign obligations.
- Infrastructure financing and dispute risk.
- The relationship between adjudication and arbitration.
Construction professionals, engineers, arbitrators, adjudicators, financiers, and government representatives will share practical insights from major infrastructure projects.
Day Five: Kenya’s Leadership in Alternative Justice Systems
Kenya has emerged as a continental leader in Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), supported by Article 159 of the Constitution.
The closing day explores:
- Constitutional recognition of AJS.
- Integration of traditional justice systems with formal ADR.
- Digitising AJS.
- Kenya’s role in shaping the future of indigenous dispute resolution across Africa.
This uniquely Kenyan contribution positions the country at the forefront of conversations on inclusive and culturally responsive justice.
Who Should Attend?
TAKUKA 2026 is designed for ADR Users and:
- Arbitrators
- Mediators
- Adjudicators
- Judges and Judicial Officers
- Legal Practitioners
- Corporate Counsel
- Government Officials
- Policy Makers
- Construction Professionals
- Engineers
- Architects
- Quantity Surveyors
- Project Managers
- Business Executives
- Investors
- Academics
- Researchers
- Students
- ADR Institutions
- International Organizations
Whether you are an experienced practitioner or just beginning your ADR journey, TAKUKA 2026 offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, network, and contribute to the future of dispute resolution.
Call for Speakers
Are you an expert with valuable insights to share?
The conference programme will feature distinguished speakers from across Africa and around the world. We invite experienced professionals, academics, policymakers, business leaders, and innovators to submit expressions of interest to speak.
Express your interest to speak here:
https://zfrmz.com/nhMEaq6zdaVkrlR52oUO
Register Today
Registration for TAKUKA 2026 is now open.
Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in one of Africa’s most influential ADR conferences.
Register here:
https://zfrmz.com/rv1a20PgtDCECM6Lt5qN
Join the Conversation Shaping Africa’s Future
TAKUKA 2026 is more than a conference.
It is a continental platform where ideas become policy, networks become partnerships, and conversations become solutions.
Join leading voices from across Africa as we redefine sovereignty, embrace innovation, strengthen institutions, and shape the future of dispute resolution.
Africa Decides. Be Part of the Conversation.
