ADR Forum

RPC (Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP) hosted the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Kenya Branch’s forum on ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Judiciary’, featuring the distinguished Hon. Chief Justice and Hon. Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

Special thanks to:
Hon. Lady Justice CJ Martha Koome – Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya (Head of Delegation)
Hon. Lady Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu – Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya
Hon. Mr. Justice Mohammed Ibrahim – Supreme Court Judge
Hon. Mr. Justice Isaac Lenaola – Supreme Court Judge
Hon. Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu – Supreme Court Judge
Hon. Mr. Justice (Dr.) Smokin Wanjala – Supreme Court Judge

Special recognition was given to the host Jonathan Wood FCIArb – Chair of LCAM Ciarb 2024 President and Dr. Chikwendu Madumere, Ph.D (Dundee) C.Arb FCIArb – Ciarb Trustee, Prof. Kariuki Muigua Ph.D, FCIArb, Ch.Arb,OGW, Richard Spearman KC, Jacqueline Waihenya – Chartered Arbitrator, FCS, LLM C.Arb FCIArb – Ciarb Kenya Branch Chair and Dr. Wyne Kenneth Mutuma C.Arb FCIArb – Ciarb Kenya Branch Vice Chair

Also present were board Members, Hon. Mary Ang’awa FCIArb – Arbitrator, Accredited Mediator, and Retired Judge, James Ngotho FCIArb – Arbitrator and Howard Momanyi MCIArb – Arbitrator.
Other Judicial officers present were Hon. Letizia Wachira – Registrar, Supreme Court of Kenya and Ms. Rose Wachuka Macharia, MBS, CSA – Chief of Staff, Office of the Chief Justice.

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ROUNDTABLE REPORT: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

1. Background and Context  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Kenya’s economy,  contributing approximately 33% of GDP and employing over 80% of the workforce outside  the agricultural sector. Despite this significance, SMEs remain disproportionately exposed  to commercial disputes that are costly, protracted, and frequently unresolved through  formal judicial channels.  The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) Kenya Branch convened a multi-stakeholder  roundtable to interrogate the landscape of dispute resolution for SMEs, assess the efficacy  of existing mechanisms, and identify entry points for scalable Alternative Dispute  Resolution (ADR) interventions. The roundtable convened representatives from the Micro  and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), the Judiciary, the Kenya National Chamber of  Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the financial sector, the insurance industry, and the  youth entrepreneurship ecosystem.  This report summarises the deliberations and perspectives presented by each  stakeholder group, and distills shared conclusions, identified gaps, and proposed areas of  partnership.  2. Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) — Perspective  Presenters: Maureen Gachogo- Registrar.                       :Agnes Thiong’o- Senior legal officer.  2.1 Nature and Typology of Disputes in the SME Sector  MSEA’s frontline engagement with the SME ecosystem reveals that disputes within this  sector are diverse in character and frequently multi-layered. The Authority identified three  principal categories of disputes commonly encountered:  •Governance disputes: These arise within SME structures, particularly cooperatives,  chamas, and registered business associations, where disagreements over  leadership, profit-sharing, decision-making authority, and member obligations  create internal fractures. Such disputes, if unresolved, often result in enterprise  dissolution or significant productive loss.  •Resource disputes – Land use: A recurring category of disputes involves access to  and use of land for business operations. These disputes frequently involve 

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