Mediation & Negotiation Conference 20th November

What to Expect at This Year’s Mediation and Negotiation Conference – ADR Week 2025

As Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) continues to gain ground globally, Kenya is taking bold strides to shape a future-ready framework that embraces mediation and negotiation as core pillars of justice and commercial efficiency. This year’s Mediation and Negotiation Conference, held as part of ADR Week 2025, promises to be a landmark event bringing together thought leaders, legal practitioners, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and ADR enthusiasts for deep conversations, fresh insights, and strategic directions.

Whether you’re a seasoned mediator, an in-house counsel, a commercial dispute resolution professional, or simply exploring how ADR can add value to your industry, here’s what you can expect:

1. Broadening Horizons: Mediation in Infrastructure and Commercial Disputes

Under the theme “From Court-Annexed to Contractual: Expanding the Role of Mediation”, this session will explore how mediation is evolving beyond the courtroom into the heart of high-value commercial and infrastructure contracts. Expect discussions on:

  • The role of mediation clauses in large-scale infrastructure projects
  • How to prevent disputes before they escalate
  • Case studies on successful contractual mediation across sectors

2. Regulating Mediation: Flexibility Meets Accountability

As mediation becomes more mainstream, so does the conversation around standards, ethics, and regulation. This session “The Case for Regulating Mediation” will weigh the pros and cons of regulation, and explore:

  • Whether Kenya needs a mediation statute
  • How to strike a balance between structure and flexibility
  • Lessons from jurisdictions with regulated mediation frameworks

3. Finance Meets Fairness: Mediation in Banking Disputes

Titled “Mediation in Banking and Finance Disputes”, this panel delves into a rarely discussed but critical area. Expect to hear from banking professionals, mediators, and regulators on:

  • Resolving sensitive financial disputes without litigation
  • The importance of maintaining trust in financial relationships
  • Practical tools for embedding mediation in financial institutions’ conflict management processes

4. Corporate Governance and Mediation: A Strategic Shift

More than just compliance, forward-thinking companies are integrating mediation into their governance frameworks. This session—“From Compliance to Strategy” will discuss:

  • The ROI of internal mediation mechanisms
  • Mediation as a boardroom tool for managing risk
  • Corporate policies that support a culture of early dispute resolution

5. Global Lessons, Local Action: Strengthening Kenya’s ADR Future

In the final keynote, “Global Lessons in Mediation”, experts will reflect on how Kenya can build a strategic, credible, and future-ready ADR system. Expect powerful takeaways on:

  • International best practices
  • Creating a mediation culture through training, awareness, and policy
  • Roadmaps for Kenya’s ADR institutions and practitioners

Why You Should Attend

– Network with local and international ADR experts
– Gain practical skills and insights to apply in your organization or practice
– Contribute to shaping the national conversation on mediation
– Discover new opportunities for collaboration and professional growth

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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) â€” 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 â€“ 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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