As Kenya gears up for ADR Week 2025, all eyes turn to the highly anticipated Domestic Arbitration Conference, taking place on November 17th at the Kenya School of Government.
Bringing together key stakeholders including legal practitioners, investors, industry leaders, government representatives, and ADR institutions the conference will explore how legislative reform can address long-standing inefficiencies, build investor confidence, and improve access to justice across sectors.
From taxation to insurance, MSMEs to governance, employment to ethics, this forum will serve as a strategic platform to assess, debate, and shape the future of arbitration in Kenya.
Topics
1. The Amendment Gamble: Charting a New Course for Domestic Arbitration in Kenya
With the Arbitration Amendment Bill poised to reshape dispute resolution in the country, stakeholders across sectors are converging to assess whether legislative reform can truly address entrenched challenges and unlock new opportunities.
A Convergence of Critical Themes and Stakeholders
The conference will be structured around key dialogue sessions and sector-specific panels, reflecting the diverse ways in which arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms impact the Kenyan economy and society.
2. Investor Dialogue Roundtable: What the Investment Community Wants from Kenya’s Arbitration Framework
Investors demand certainty, efficiency, and impartiality. This session will bring together domestic and international investors, legal practitioners, and policymakers to discuss how Kenya’s arbitration framework can be enhanced to attract and retain capital. With Kenya positioning itself as an investment hub in East Africa, the quality of its dispute resolution mechanisms will be a make-or-break factor.
3. Taxation and ADR in Kenya: Building a Fair, Efficient, and Investor-Friendly Dispute Resolution Framework
Tax disputes remain a major bottleneck for both businesses and government. This panel explores how ADR can be effectively used in tax matters to reduce backlog, improve trust in the system, and foster a more predictable business environment. Key speakers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the judiciary, and the legal fraternity will unpack how recent amendments could shift the terrain.
4. Bridging the Access Gap: Expedited Arbitration for MSMEs
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of Kenya’s economy, yet they often lack access to effective dispute resolution. This session will focus on expedited arbitration procedures as a game-changer for small businesses, with practical proposals to make arbitration faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
5. Insurance Sector Focus: Aligning Law, Regulation, and Market Practice
The insurance industry has long struggled with inefficiencies in resolving claims-related disputes. A specialized panel will examine how arbitration can provide a viable path to fairer and quicker settlements, especially under the amended legal framework. Regulatory representatives and industry leaders will discuss ways to harmonize law, market expectations, and consumer protection.
6. Building Ethical Cultures in Arbitration: Responsibilities of Practitioners, Parties, and Institutions
With arbitration increasingly under scrutiny for lack of transparency and perceived bias, this panel will delve into the ethical responsibilities of all actors in the arbitration ecosystem. Can Kenya lead the way in establishing a culture of integrity in ADR? Discussions will touch on codes of conduct, institutional accountability, and the role of education.
7. ADR in Employment Disputes: Fairness, Access, and Efficiency in the Workplace
Employment disputes have surged in recent years, often overwhelming traditional courts. This session will assess how arbitration and ADR can promote workplace justice, protect both employer and employee rights, and maintain industrial harmony. Labor unions, employers’ organizations, and HR professionals will weigh in.
8. Governance and Integrity: ADR in Public and Corporate Sector Disputes
Corruption, mismanagement, and public sector inefficiencies continue to plague Kenya’s development. Can ADR play a role in safeguarding integrity within public institutions and corporate governance? This session will highlight success stories and ongoing challenges in using arbitration to resolve high-stakes governance disputes.
Setting the Agenda for the Future
The Domestic Arbitration Conference promises to be more than just a discussion forum it aims to be a launchpad for reform. Through stakeholder engagement, practical recommendations, and a forward-looking lens, the event seeks to align Kenya’s arbitration framework with national priorities and global best practices.
As ADR Week unfolds, the November 17th conference at the Kenya School of Government will be a critical milestone in ensuring that Kenya’s arbitration system not only evolves, but does so equitably, efficiently, and ethically.
