News & Analysis

Right to Water as a Socioeconomic Right: International Legal Framework

Published

3 years ago

December 11, 2021

Admin

By Dr. Kariuki Muigua, PhD (Leading Environmental Law Scholar, Policy Advisor, Natural Resources Lawyer and Dispute Resolution Expert from Kenya), Winner of Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021, ADR Publication of the Year 2021 and CIArb (Kenya) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021*

Water is a basic human right which is recognized as such both under international and national laws. It is one of the socioeconomic rights recognized under Article 43(1) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which provides that every person has a right “to clean and safe water in adequate quantities.” The international legal instruments especially those on human rights obligate all states the world over to work towards ensuring that their citizens have access to clean and adequate amounts of water. However, for most States, including Kenya, this remains a challenge mostly attributable to climatic, political, economic and social reasons.

Indeed, it has been argued that water is a key medium through which climate change impacts on human populations, society and ecosystems, particularly due to predicted changes in its quality and quantity. Water is also considered to be at the core of sustainable development agenda and is critical for socio-economic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. It is also said to be at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between society and the environment. But despite this important role of water, it is estimated that as at 2020, 2.2 billion people currently do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 billion, or 55% of the world’s population, are without safely managed sanitation.

Recent studies have shown that the Corona Virus (Covid-19) global pandemic has not only made things worse as far as access to safe drinking water is concerned but has in fact served to expose how dire the situation is and how there are many people from the poor sections of the society who have no access to clean and safe drinking water. The World Health Organization has already affirmed that the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions is essential for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The international recognition of socio-economic rights like right to water dates from the early20th century, and after the World War II, international treaties and conventions increasingly began to incorporate socio-economic rights, including, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989),among others. Economic, social, and cultural rights are defined to include the human right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing, the right to physical and mental health, the right to social security, the right to a healthy environment, and the right to education.

While water is not explicitly mentioned as a human right under the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, it was, however, implied through other human rights, such as the right to life, right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to health. The realization of these rights is highly dependent on access to safe and adequate water. The first efforts to officially recognize water as a human right were crystallized under the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development which came as a result of the International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICWE) in Dublin, Ireland, on 26 to 31 January 1992.

The Dublin Statement acknowledges that ‘scarcity and misuse of fresh water pose a serious and growing threat to sustainable development and protection of the environment. Human health and welfare food security, industrial development and the ecosystems on which they depend, are all at risk, unless water and land resources are managed more effectively in the present decade and beyond than they have been in the past.’ The Conference participants called for “fundamental new approaches to the assessment, development and management of freshwater resources, which can only be brought about through political commitment and involvement from the highest levels of government to the smallest communities.” They also observed that commitment will need to be backed by substantial and immediate investments, public awareness campaigns, legislative and institutional changes, technology development, and capacity building programmes as well as a greater recognition of the interdependence of all peoples, and of their place in the natural world.

The Dublin Statement thus called for concerted action to reverse the present trends of overconsumption, pollution, and rising threats from drought and floods. In 2002, the United Nations officially adopted water as a human right through the General Comment 15, of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which states as follows: “The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.” General Comment 15 was meant to interpret the 1966 Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights confirming the right to water in international law.

On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/29221, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the human right to clean drinking water as essential to the realization of all human rights. The right to water is, thus, now internationally considered to be a human right with obligations to States to ensure that their subjects have access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation. The prominence of this right to water received a boosting under Goal 6 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals which is dedicated to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. It requires all States to ensure that by 2030, they achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

*This is article is an extract from an article by Dr. Kariuki Muigua, PhD, Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021 (Nairobi Legal Awards), ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and ADR Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 (CIArb Kenya): Muigua, K., Fulfilling the Right to Water as a Socioeconomic Right for the People of Kenya, https://kmco.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/ 2020/11/Fulfilling-the-Right-to-Water-as-a-Socioeconomic-Right-for-the-People-of-Kenya-Kariuki-Muigua-Ph-D.pdf. Dr. Kariuki Muigua is Kenya’s foremost Environmental Law and Natural Resources Lawyer and Scholar, Sustainable Development Advocate and Conflict Management Expert. Dr. Kariuki Muigua is a Senior Lecturer of Environmental Law and Dispute resolution at the University of Nairobi School of Law and The Center for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP). He has published numerous books and articles on Environmental Law, Environmental Justice Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Development. Dr. Muigua is also a Chartered Arbitrator, an Accredited Mediator, the Africa Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Managing Partner of Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates. Dr. Muigua is recognized as one of the leading lawyers and dispute resolution experts by the Chambers Global Guide 2021.

References

Albuquerque, C., “Climate Change and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation.” (2010)< https://www2.ohchr.org/ english/issues/water/iexpert/docs/ClimateChange_HRtWS.pdf> (Accessed 11 December 2021).

CESR, ‘What Are Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?’ (3 December 2008), Available at: https://www.cesr.org/what-are-economic-social-and-cultural-rights (Accessed 29 October 2020).

Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions and others (eds), Manual on the Right to Water and Sanitation: A Tool to Assist Policy Makers and Practitioners Develop Strategies for Implementing the Human Right to Water and Sanitation (Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions 2007);

Dawood Ahmed and Elliot Bulmer, ‘Social and Economic Rights,’ International IDEA Constitution-Building Primer 9, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Second edition, 2017, Available at: https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/social-and-economic-rights-primer.pdf (Accessed 20 October, 2020).

Dos Santos, S. and others, ‘Urban Growth and Water Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Challenges, and Emerging Research Directions’ (2017) 607–608 Science of The Total Environment 497.

Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development’ (1992) 10 Waterlines 4, Available at: http://www.cawater-info.net/library/eng/l/dublin.pdf (Accessed on 11 December 2021)

General Comment No. 15: The Right to Water (Arts. 11 and 12 of the Covenant), Adopted at the Twenty-ninth Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on 20 January 2003 (Contained in Document E/C.12/2002/11).

Human Rights Watch, “‘There Is No Time Left.’” (2 Jan. 2019), Available at: www.hrw.org/report/2015/ 10/15/there-no-timeleft/climate-change-environmental-threats-and-human-rights-turkana; (Accessed 1 December 2021).

Kiefer, T., Winkler, I., and Cacciaguidi-Fahy, S., “Legal Resources for the Right to Water and Sanitation. International and National Standards.” International and National Standards – 2^nd Edition (2008).

McGraw, G. S. “Defining and defending the right to water and its minimum core: legal construction and the role of national jurisprudence.” Loy. U. Chi. Int’l L. Rev. 8 (2010): 127.

Lancet Global Health, ‘Water and Sanitation in a Post-COVID World’ (2020) 8 The Lancet Global Health e1101.

Ling San Lau and others, ‘COVID-19 in Humanitarian Settings and Lessons Learned from Past Epidemics’ (2020) 26 Nature Medicine 647.

Nicol, A., ‘The Pandemic Is Laying Bare a Global Water Crisis’ (Foreign Policy) accessed 28 October 2020;

Safe Drinking Water Foundation, ‘Human Rights,’ Available at: https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/human-rights (accessed 28 October 2020).

UN-Water, ‘Water’ (21 December 2015) https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/water/ (accessed 28 October 2020).

UN-Water, ‘UN World Water Development Report 2020 “Water and Climate Change”’ (UN-Water, 21 March 2020) accessed 28 October 2020.

United Nations, CESCR General Comment No. 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Art. 12), Adopted at the Twenty-second Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on 11 August 2000 (Contained in Document E/C.12/2000/4);

UN General Assembly, The human right to water and sanitation: resolution / adopted by the General Assembly, 3 August 2010, A/RES/64/292.

UN, ‘International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015. Focus Areas: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation’ https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/human_right_to_water.shtml (accessed 21 October 2020).

UN General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 21 October 2015, A/RES/70/1. 25.

World Health Organization. Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus: interim guidance, 23 April 2020. No. WHO/2019-nCoV/IPC_WASH/2020.3. World Health Organization, 2020.

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News & Analysis

Brief Overview of Kenyan Bankruptcy Law

Published

4 weeks ago

February 20, 2025

Kiragu Wathuta & Company Advocates

Bankruptcy refers to the state where a debtor is unable to pay their debts when the debts become due. For a person to be bankrupt there must be an order by the court stating that they are unable to pay their debts.

Who can apply for a bankruptcy order?

Either the debtor or the debtor’s creditor(s) may apply to court for the issuance of bankruptcy Order.

What conditions must be met for the court to issue bankruptcy order?

Where the application for bankruptcy order is made by a debtor, they must satisfy the court that:

They are either domiciled in Kenya, personally present in Kenya or three years preceding the date of the application they have been ordinarily resident or carried business in Kenya.
Their debt meets the minimum prescribed threshold
They have not previously been adjudged bankrupt
They are not in the process of being adjudged bankrupt

When the application for bankruptcy order is made by creditor(s), they must satisfy the court that:

The debtor is either domiciled in Kenya, personally present in Kenya or three years preceding the date of the application they have been ordinarily resident or carried business in Kenya.
The debtor owes them a sum of money equal to or above the prescribed threshold
The debt is for a liquidated amount payable to the applicant creditor(s) either immediately or at some certain future time, and is unsecured
The debt is one that the debtor appears to be unable to pay or to have no reasonable prospect of being able to pay
There is no outstanding application to set aside a statutory demand in respect of the debt
They have given a notice of not less than twenty one days seeking payment of debt due immediately and the duration has lapsed without being paid
They obtained Judgment, served it on the debtor and after 21 days the decretal sum has not been paid
They have served on the debtor a demand requiring the debtor to establish to their satisfaction that there is a reasonable prospect that the debtor will be able to pay a debt payable in future, when it falls due and 21 days have lapsed without the demand being complied with or set aside.

Upon being satisfied that the above conditions have been met, the court issues a bankruptcy Order.

Can court issue a bankruptcy order on an application by secured creditors?

Court can make bankruptcy order on application by secured creditor(s) only when:

The application contains a statement by the person having the right to enforce the security that the creditor is willing, in the event of a bankruptcy order being made, to give up the security for the benefit of all the bankrupt’s creditors; OR,
The application is expressed not to be made in respect of the secured part of the debt and contains a statement by that person of the estimated value at the date of the application of the security for the secured part of the debt.

Under what circumstances can court dismiss an application for bankruptcy order?

The Court may dismiss an application if it is satisfied that either the debtor is able to pay all of the debtor’s debts; OR—

That the debtor has made an offer to secure or compound for a debt in respect of which the application is made
That the acceptance of that offer would have required the dismissal of the application; and
That the offer has been unreasonably refused.

What are the consequences of a Bankruptcy Order?

Where a trustee in bankruptcy has been appointed, the property of the bankrupt vests in the trustee. If no trustee has been appointed, the property of the bankrupt will vest in the Official Receiver to act as the interim trustee.
The bankrupt suffers all the disabilities of law for instance: they cannot run for elected positions, they can’t directors of a company, they can’t file suits in their own name, and they can’t enter into contracts.
No civil proceedings can be instituted or continued against the bankrupt once the order is made
The bankrupt has an obligation to provide a true and accurate account of all his assets, income and liabilities
The official receiver is entitled to recover assets that the bankrupt has transferred within two years immediately preceding the bankruptcy.
Does not extinguish debts of a bankrupt but only protects them from creditors commencing recovery proceedings without leave of court.

Kiragu Wathuta & Company Advocates

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Kiragu Wathuta & Company Advocates was established in 2013 by Mr. Kiragu Wathuta, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya called to the bar in the year 2009. Our firm is run by an organized team of proffessionals who are highly skilled and widely exposed to diverse areas of law and the industry in general.

We have built a name for PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE in various disciplines of legal services including but not limited to civil and commercial litigation, conveyance and property matters as well as commercial and corporate law practice.

We provide value-added service in consonance with each individual client’s needs. For our clients, their interests are paramount and the client is our number one priority.

Our Portfolio of Clients is drawn from Property Owners, Developers, Investors and Joint Ventures, Corporate Entities, Financial institutions, Parastatals, Manufacturing Companies, Mortgage Institutions as well as individuals. We continue to endear our services to reach beyond our borders.

News & Analysis

What is Carbon Markets?

Published

8 months ago

July 8, 2024

MMA Advocates LLP

Written by Faith Nyambura Kabora, Advocate.

Carbon markets are a mechanism designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which are essentially gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the negative impacts of climate change such as prolonged drought and rising of sea levels.

Carbon markets operate on the principle of putting a price on carbon emissions to create commercial/economic incentives for public and private entities to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in cleaner, sustainable practices.

Ideally, by putting a price on carbon, the carbon markets encourage sustainable environmental practices and help counties meet their emission reduction targets under international treaties, like the Paris Agreement, which Kenya is a signatory to. For a broader understanding, here is how a carbon market works;

A Government establishes a limit on the total amount of greenhouse gas emission/pollution is allowed within its geographical limits;
A grant, say permissions are created and distributed to eligible participants. This allowance represents the right to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gas;
The participants can then buy and sell the allowances. Ideally, those who reduce their emissions more efficiently sell their surplus allowance to those who find it more challenging to reduce the emissions. If a company pollutes a lot, they need to buy more permissions, and if they do not pollute as much, they can sell their extra permissions.
Entities are required to hold enough allowances to cover their actual emissions. If they exceed allocated allowances, they face penalties or, as expounded above, they buy additional allowances. This is the part where compliance becomes mandatory for all the key players.
The price of the allowances fluctuates based on supply and demands and reflects the cost of emitting greenhouse gases. It is essentially like paying for pollution.

A carbon market plays a pivotal role in advancing climate action and promoting sustainable practices by incentivizing companies to reconsider their pollution practices, which can result in financial consequences as pollution becomes a costly endeavor. In Kenya, the introduction of a Carbon Market is imperative as the world confronts the dire consequences of climate change. Furthermore, it offers a commercial opportunity for investors considering the growing demand for environmentally friendly and carbon neutral products and services.

As mentioned above, the Paris Agreement is one of the most important international treaties dedicated strengthen global response to the negative impact of climate change. Ultimately, the Agreement’s goal is to motivate countries to limit global emissions and more importantly, to hold them accountable for their actions around reducing their carbon footprints.

Kenya as a signatory to the Paris Agreement has made significant contributions towards fulfilling the obligations under the Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature. The Climate Change (Amendment) Act 2023, nudges Kenya towards the realization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by introducing provisions and regulation of and participation in carbon markets.

MMA Advocates LLP

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As one of the top law firms in Nairobi, MMA Advocates is renowned for its proactive strategy and innovative legal lawyer advice. Our firm is committed to delivering strategic assistance that not only tackles current difficulties but also equips clients for future legal trends and advancements. As top lawyers in Nairobi Kenya, we take great satisfaction in our ability to combine in-depth legal knowledge with creative problem-solving. We keep a close eye on business trends and legal advancements to deliver timely guidance that enables our clients to make wise choices.

Our main goal as MMA Advocates is to establish long-lasting partnerships based on integrity, decency, and reliability. Since every client’s circumstance is unique, our best advocates in Kenya offer timely service and individualized attention at every stage of our collaboration. We make sure our clients are informed and empowered throughout their legal journey because we value openness and transparency in communication. In every case we take on, we are deeply committed to obtaining positive results and client satisfaction. This is just one aspect of our unwavering commitment to quality.

Whether you are a startup negotiating regulatory obstacles, an established corporation expanding, or a private citizen seeking legal assistance on personal problems, our Best Corporate Lawyers in Kenya are dedicated to becoming your legal partner. Our expertise include Commercial Litigation, Real Estate & Development, Fintech, Public Procurement (Public Private Partnerships), Project Finance, Public Law Litigation, Legal Audits & Compliance Advisory and Crisis Management.

We hope to arm you with the legal know-how and strategies needed to achieve your objectives. Our team enjoys taking on challenging legal matters with creativity and strategic understanding, protecting your rights and effectively achieving your goals. With a thorough comprehension of both regional laws and global norms, we are prepared to confidently and competently lead you through the complexities of corporate law.

In the intensely competitive legal arena, our tailored legal and strategic solutions distinguish us. We value depth over breadth, guaranteeing our clients our full dedication and unparalleled efficiency. Where many spread themselves wide, we narrow our focus to a select few of the most challenging cases. We tread the path less traveled.

To find out more about how MMA Advocates in Nairobi Kenya can help you with your legal issues, get in touch with us. With our team of committed professionals and our standing as one of the top law firms in Nairobi, we are well-positioned to offer outcomes that surpass expectations and guarantee your success in a legal environment that is always changing.

News & Analysis

Review: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Journal, Volume 12(3), 2024

Published

11 months ago

April 28, 2024

Kariuki Muigua & Company

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Journal, Volume. 12, No.3, 2024 covers pertinent and emerging issues across all ADR mechanisms. This volume exposes our readers to a variety of salient topics and concerns in ADR including Building Peace in Africa, Public Policy as a Ground of Setting-Aside an Arbitral Award, Ethics, Integrity and Best Practice in Mediation, Accessing Justice in Kenya, Sports Arbitration, ESG Arbitration, Arbitration of Investor-State Dispute in Kenya, Article 159(2) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and issuance of interim measures by Arbitral Tribunals. The ADR Journal is a publication of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Kenya Branch. It provides a platform for scholarly debate and in-depth investigations into both theoretical and practical questions in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

The journal is edited by Professor of Law at the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Law Hon Prof. Kariuki Muigua, a distinguished law scholar, an accomplished mediator and arbitrator with a Ph.D. in law from the University of Nairobi and widespread training and experience in both international and national commercial arbitration and mediation. Prof. Muigua is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)- Kenya chapter and also a Chartered Arbitrator. He is a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague. He also serves as a member of the National Environment Tribunal. He has served as the Chartered Institute of Arbitrator’s (CIArb- UK) Regional Trustee for Africa from 2019 -2022.

In the paper “Building Peace in Africa through Alternative Dispute Resolution” Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua critically discusses the role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in peace building in Africa. The paper argues that ADR mechanisms can play a fundamental role in building peace in Africa. The paper further posits that ADR mechanisms are able to enhance sustainable peace in Africa due to their focus on reconciliation and restorative justice. It proposes solutions towards building peace in Africa through ADR.

In “the Emergence of the International Commercial Court: A Threat to Arbitration of Investor-State Dispute in Kenya” Marion Injendi Wasike and Dr. Kenneth W. Mutuma argue that the proliferation of international commercial courts, including their introduction in Kenya, necessitates a thorough analysis of their implications on arbitration’s role in investor-state disputes. By juxtaposing these emerging judicial entities against traditional arbitration paradigms, the discussion aims to unravel the complexities and potential shifts in dispute resolution preferences, highlighting the balance between innovation in legal adjudication and the sustenance of arbitration’s revered position in the international legal order.

Kamau Karori SC, MBS in “Striking a Balance: A Delicate Dance Between Sanctity and Scrutiny” notes that the continuing debate —between upholding the inviolability of arbitral awards and judicial intervention in cases of egregious injustice points to the need for delicate balancing between non-interference and the need to correct unmistakably unjust awards. The urgency of this discourse is informed by the need to prevent consumers or potential consumers of arbitration services opting to exclude arbitration clauses due to perceived deficiencies. The article seeks to navigate the genesis of the debate, delicately dissect the different perspectives, and draw comparisons with global practices.

The article “Reforming Kenya’s Law on Probation and Aftercare Services to Promote Alternative Dispute Resolution” by Michael Sang engages in a comprehensive exploration of Kenya’s Probation of Offenders Act within the context of the growing role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) principles in the nation’s criminal justice system. Drawing inspiration from international legal instruments such as “The Beijing Rules,” “Bangkok Rules,” and “Tokyo Rules,” the study evaluates the Act’s provisions, strengths, and limitations. It concludes with a call for thoughtful reforms that align Kenya’s criminal justice system with international standards, emphasizing a balanced and compassionate approach to justice.

The “Upholding Ethics, Integrity and Best Practice in Mediation” by Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua, OGW critically discusses the need for standardization of mediation practice in Kenya by adopting best practices. It examines some of the challenges facing mediation practice in Kenya. It is also explores measures adopted towards fostering best practices in mediation at both the global and national level. The paper further suggests recommendations aimed at upholding ethics, integrity and best practice in mediation. In “Exploring the Role of Mediation in Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Fostering Economic Growth in Kenya” Atundo Wambare offers an in-depth analysis of the use of mediation in promoting the growth of small and medium enterprises (SME’s). He makes recommendations on how best mediation can be harnessed as a tool for economic growth in Kenya.

James Njuguna and Nyamboga George Nyanaro in “Compulsory Resolution or Autonomy Erosion? The Debate on Mandatory Sports Arbitration delve into the contentious issue of mandatory sports arbitration, questioning its role as a potential future pathway for dispute resolution. Their research examines the implications of compulsory arbitration on athletes’ autonomy, juxtaposing it with the benefits of expedited dispute resolution.

Paul Ngotho in “Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article 159.2.(c): Ancestry, Anatomy, Efficacy & Legacy” traces the rather odd origin and everlasting effect of the often-cited Article 159.2.(c) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It acknowledges the central role played by two members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Kenya Branch, quietly and privately, away from the mainstream constitution making process. One of them chairman of the Branch, the other the Minister of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs.

David Onsare in “Navigating The ESG Maze: Emerging Trends in Arbitration and Corporate Accountability” embarks on a timely exploration of the dynamic interplay between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and arbitration, a field gaining critical importance in the realm of corporate accountability. By offering a comprehensive view of the complexities and practical implications of ESG in arbitration, the article serves as a crucial guide for legal professionals navigating the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility and arbitration. In “Public Policy as a Ground of Setting-Aside an Arbitral Award: Musings on the Centurion Engineers Civil Appeal Judgment”

Ibrahim Kitoo argues a case for upholding of public policy as a ground for the nonrecognition, non-enforcement and setting aside of an arbitral award in cases where to recognise and enforce such awards proves to be a clear violation of the law and against the public good. Juvenalis Ngowi in “Arbitral Tribunals: Do they have the power to issue interim measures during the proceedings?” discusses the powers of the Arbitral Tribunal to grant such orders and examines some procedural rules which empower arbitrators to issue such orders, the scope of those powers, and the factors to be considered when granting interim measures in the arbitral proceedings.

In “Examining the Efficacy of Mediation as A Tool for Accessing Justice in Kenya: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives” Murithi Antony undertakes a thorough examination of mediation as a form of ADR in the Kenyan context. He identifies opportunities arising from the integration of mediation into the country’s legal system and explores barriers impeding its widespread adoption. The article concludes with a resounding call to action for all stakeholders to champion the use of mediation collaboratively and proactively, given its proven efficacy in dispute resolution.

Kariuki Muigua & Company

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Kariuki Muigua & Company Advocates is a Top-Tier Kenyan law firm situated at the heart of Nairobi city in Kenya. We are a broad-based practice with a reputation for offering a full range of quality services to our domestic and international clients.

At KM&CO, we take pride in offering personalized attention to our diverse clientele. Our practice aspires to offer efficient and cost-effective legal solutions that meet our esteemed clients’ needs in a timely and competent manner.

KM&CO was founded in 1993 by the current senior Advocate, Dr. Kariuki Muigua. It is based in the Central Business District of Nairobi at the Pioneer Assurance House located opposite 7th August Bomb Blast Memorial Park enjoying the convenience of close proximity to major financial, commercial and governmental institutions.

We are open for consultations with our clients worldwide; we have lawyers on standby for 24 hours to cover diverse time zones that impact on our global clients.