Ciarb Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya Sign Landmark Memorandum of Understanding to Advance ADR

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) Kenya Branch and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have taken a significant step towards strengthening the future of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Kenya through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Ciarb Kenya Secretariat.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to enhancing professional development, expanding access to ADR, and fostering greater collaboration between the legal profession and dispute resolution practitioners in support of an efficient and accessible justice system.

A Shared Vision for the Future of Justice

The MoU was signed during a meeting attended by the leadership of both institutions.

The Ciarb Kenya delegation was led by Chairman Prof. Kenneth Wyne Mutuma, MBS, C.Arb, alongside Chief Executive Officer Evelyne Kimani, MCIArb, Convener, Legal Peter Njeru, OGW, FCIArb, and Treasurer James Kariuki Ngotho, FCIArb.

Representing the Law Society of Kenya was President Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama, FCIArb, accompanied by Vice President Teresia Wavinya Nicholas, Upcountry Representatives Hiram Kirimi and Hezekiah Aseso, Coast Representative Titus Mukanzi, and Programs Manager Wendy Muganda from the LSK Secretariat.

The gathering underscored the longstanding relationship between the two institutions and their common goal of promoting excellence in legal practice and dispute resolution.

Strengthening the ADR Ecosystem

As Kenya continues to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution as an integral component of its justice system, partnerships between professional institutions have become increasingly important.

The collaboration between Ciarb Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya is expected to provide a framework for:

• Enhancing professional training and continuous legal education.
• Promoting the adoption and effective use of arbitration, mediation, adjudication, and other ADR mechanisms.
• Encouraging research, knowledge sharing, and thought leadership in dispute resolution.
• Supporting practitioners through joint programmes, conferences, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Strengthening collaboration on policy discussions that contribute to the growth of ADR and access to justice in Kenya.

By bringing together the expertise of both institutions, the partnership seeks to create greater opportunities for legal practitioners, arbitrators, mediators, adjudicators, and the wider justice sector.

A Commitment Beyond the Signing Ceremony

While the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks an important milestone, it also represents the beginning of a broader collaboration focused on delivering practical outcomes.

Through this partnership, both institutions aim to explore innovative ways of working together to strengthen Kenya’s dispute resolution landscape, improve professional standards, and promote greater public confidence in ADR as an effective means of resolving disputes.

The collaboration reflects a shared belief that meaningful partnerships between legal and ADR institutions are essential to building a justice system that is efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of businesses, institutions, and citizens alike.

Looking Ahead

As ADR continues to play an increasingly central role in commercial, investment, and public dispute resolution across Africa, collaborations such as this demonstrate the importance of institutional partnerships in shaping the future of justice.

Ciarb Kenya looks forward to working closely with the Law Society of Kenya to implement the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding and to deliver initiatives that will benefit practitioners, institutions, and the public while advancing Kenya’s position as a regional leader in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Together, the two institutions reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the legal profession, promoting excellence in ADR, and contributing to a more accessible and effective justice ecosystem for Kenya.