Preliminary applications play a decisive role in shaping the procedural direction and substantive outcome of arbitral proceedings. Applications relating to jurisdiction, admissibility, interim relief, security for costs, or early dismissal can either enhance the efficiency and fairness of arbitration or, if poorly handled, undermine confidence in the process, increase costs, and expose awards to challenge or non-enforcement. As arbitration continues to grow in complexity and usage in Kenya and the region, the effective management of preliminary issues has become a critical professional skill rather than a procedural afterthought.
It is against this backdrop that Ciarb Kenya will host a focused, in-person workshop on Preliminary Applications in Arbitration on 05 March 2026 at the CIArb Secretariat. The workshop responds to an increasing demand from practitioners, users, and tribunals for practical guidance on how preliminary applications should be approached, managed, and determined in a manner that promotes efficiency, procedural fairness, and enforceability.
Ciarb Kenya is convening this workshop as part of its broader mandate to build capacity, promote professional excellence, and strengthen trust in arbitration as an effective dispute resolution mechanism. Experience has shown that poorly framed or strategically misused preliminary applications are a major source of delay and procedural abuse in arbitral proceedings. By addressing these challenges directly, Ciarb Kenya seeks to equip practitioners with the tools to avoid unnecessary fragmentation of proceedings while safeguarding due process and party autonomy.
The workshop will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the nature and scope of preliminary applications, including the critical distinctions between jurisdictional, admissibility, procedural, and substantive objections. It will examine the strategic considerations that inform whether and when such applications should be brought or resisted, with particular attention to the application of the Arbitration Act (Kenya) and relevant institutional rules. This practical focus reflects Ciarb Kenya’s commitment to ensuring that international best practice is meaningfully adapted to local and regional realities.
A central component of the programme is the role of the arbitral tribunal. Participants will explore how arbitrators can proactively manage preliminary applications through effective case management techniques, informed bifurcation decisions, and clear procedural directions. Through guided drafting exercises and interactive discussions, the workshop will also address the drafting of procedural orders, interim decisions, and partial awards that meet accepted reasoning standards and minimize exposure to challenge.
The training will be delivered through expert-led interactive sessions, practical case studies drawn from regional and international practice, and structured peer learning. Participants will also receive practical tools, including templates and checklists, that can be applied directly in their professional practice.
This workshop is particularly relevant for members of the Ciarb Kenya Roll of Neutrals, arbitrators and aspiring arbitrators, arbitration counsel, in-house counsel, tribunal secretaries, and advanced arbitration trainees. By strengthening competence in the handling of preliminary applications, the programme is expected to contribute to improved efficiency, higher-quality decision-making, and greater confidence in arbitration outcomes.
Event Details:
Workshop Date & Time: 05 March 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Venue: Ciarb Secretariat
CPD Points: 2 points for members
Participation Fee: KES 5,500 (introductory)
Payment Methods:
EFT/Deposit: NCBA Bank, Mama Ngina Branch, KES Account No. 6435390017
M-Pesa Paybill: 975743, Account: SRW1
Through this initiative, Ciarb Kenya continues to demonstrate its leadership role in advancing arbitration practice, supporting practitioners, and reinforcing confidence in arbitration as a credible, efficient, and enforceable dispute resolution mechanism in Kenya and the wider region.
Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sk7FNfCJkoAkaD7bsnm76gqo_F6_NlmFtC1H5jgs3cw
