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ABOUT

The Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) is excited to announce the 2nd Nairobi Arbitration Week (NAW2025), set to take place from March 17th – 21st, 2025. Building on the momentum of its inaugural event, NAW2025 will focus on the Theme: “Arbitrating in the Age of Sustainability,” addressing the dynamic interplay between arbitration and sustainable development in today’s world. As a rising hub for international arbitration, Nairobi offers a unique platform to explore the evolving landscape of dispute resolution in the context of sustainability. NAW2025 will gather a diverse array of local and global arbitration practitioners, in-house counsel, academics, and industry experts to discuss cutting-edge topics that are shaping the future of arbitration.

Throughout the week, participants will engage in a variety of formats—from panel discussions and workshops to networking events and interactive sessions. Alongside these enriching programs, we are excited to introduce the 1st Domestic Arbitration Moot, where rising legal talents will showcase their skills and innovation in a competitive setting. Attendees will have the chance to gain insights from leading voices in the field, share their perspectives, and contribute to the growing dialogue on how arbitration can support a more sustainable world. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this landmark event. Join us in Nairobi and be at the forefront of advancing international arbitration. Further details, including speakers and specific sessions, will be announced soon.

Note: The HKIAC Breakfast Session themed “Arbitration Insight: Bridging Africa and Asia – current trade and investment landscape between Africa/Asia” scheduled for Wednesday 19th March 2025 from 8.30am to 10am, as per the NAW 2025 programme below, is an in-person event which requires prior registration through the link below to facilitate prior planning and logistics by the event host; https://hkiac.glueup.com/event/invitation-naw-25-bridging-africa-and-asia-130440/

PROGRAMME

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Sub-Theme: The Green Growth Conversation

Starting Time Ending Time Event Speaker Moderator
8.00 8:45 Registration NCIA Secretariat
8.45 9:15 Networking Coffee
9.15

 

 

 

 

 

10:30

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Session:

Guest Speakers

 

 

Keynote Speaker

• Mr. Daniel Mainda – CEO, NIFCA
• Dr. Henry K. Murigi, PhD. Registrar/CEO, NCIA
• Ms. Jacqueline Waihenya – Chairman, CIARB Kenya
• Ms. Jacqueline Oyuyo Githinji – Board Chairperson, NCIA• Hon. Dorcas Agik Oduor SC, OGW, EBS -
Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya
• John Ohaga SC, C.Arb,FCIArb
Senior Partner, TripleOKLaw
Advocates• Dr. (Arch) Sylvia M. Kasanga,FCIArb
10:30 11:00 Tea Break
11:00 12:00 Sustainable Arbitration Practices: Aligning
Dispute Resolution with Green Growth
Goals
• Michelle Porter Wright
Partner, Baker McKenzie
• Tiffany Grey, Director Designate, Baker McKenzie• Kamau Karori, SC Senior Partner, DLA Piper Africa
• Joanne Lau Secretary-General, HKIAC
Gordon Oduor
Lecturer, Strathmore Law
School
12:00 01:00 The Role of Arbitration in Advancing Green
Growth: Challenges and Opportunities
• Cindy Oraro Partner,Oraro & Company Advocates
• Noella Lubano Partner, Oraro & Company Advocates
• Robert Mahenia Partner, Njeru & Co. Advocates
• Dr. Tedd Moya
Founder, Lex Navitas
Zahra Omar
Associate, Oraro &
Company Advocates
13.00 14:00 Networking Lunch
14:00 15:00 Arbitrating Environmental Disputes: Case Studies and Lessons Learned • James Holden - Partner, White & Case LLP, London
• Opeyemi Longe - Associate, White & Case LLP, London
• Eva Aremo - Associate, Mohammed Muigai LLP
• David Onsare, FCIArb - Partner, Maina & Onsare Partners Advocate
Robert Wheal
Partner, White &
Case LLP, London
15:00 16:00 The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Arbitration Clauses: Adapting to
Evolving Legal Frameworks
• Jomo Nyaribo Partner, MMAN Advocates
• Shai Wade Partner, Head of International Arbitration, RPC
• Robert Wheal Partner, White & Case LLP, London
• Michelle Porter
Partner, Baker McKenzie
Vincent Oloo
Senior Associate, MMAN
Advocates
16:00 16:30 Tea Break
16:30 17.15 African German Arbitration Cooperation
(AfGAC)
• Christian Graf Legal Director, HCC
• Friedrich J. Mehmel Co-founder of LawCom Institute
• Victor Mugabe Secretary General, KIAC
• Joy Maina Manager, Case Management, NCIA
Linnea Harting
Senior Consultant,
(AfGAC)

 

Sub-Theme: The Technology Sector

Starting Time Ending Time Event Speaker Moderator
8.00 8:30 Registration NCIA Secretariat
8.30 9:30 Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Revolutionizing
Arbitration for Technology Disputes
• Kate Beretta
Partner, Bowmans South Africa
• Victoria Kariithi
Managing Partner, Mwanyumba Kariithi & Co. Advocates
Jonathan Barnes
Partner, Bowmans, South
Africa
9.30 10:30 The Role of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in Arbitration: Transforming Case Presentations • Felix Okoth Co-Founder & CTO mTek Services
• Dr. Njeri Ngaruiya Ng’ang’a Faculty Lecturer, Strathmore University
• Kavosa Assava
Head of Legal, Fallohide Africa
Terry Mwango FCIArb
Partner, Bowmans Kenya
10:30 11:00 Tea Break
11:00 12:00 AI and Machine Learning in Arbitration: Ethical considerations • Ariana Issaias
Director, Bowmans Kenya
• Otilia Phiri Principal Corporate Counsel, Microsoft
• Brian Kuira
Head of Strategy & Planning, Oxygene MCL
Mabvuto Sakala
Partner, Bowmans
Zambia
12:00 01:00 Case Studies: Regional Perspectives • Brian Mambosho - Lawyer, Tanzania
• Clement Mkiva - Partner, Bowmans
Johannesburg
• Cecil Kuyo - Partner, Bowmans
Johannesburg
Alfred Deya
Partner, Bowmans Kenya
13.00 14:00 Lunch
14:00 15:00 Navigating Cross-border IP, Interoperability & Regulatory disputes: Arbitration an option for Telco’s? • Effie Omondi
Senior Associate, Bowmans Kenya
• Martha Watane
Head of IT, Mawingu Group
• Wangechi Gichuki
Head, Legal & Secretarial Services, Safaricom
PLC
Clement Mkiva
Partner, Bowmans South
Africa
15:00 16:00 General Counsel Session: Perspectives for an industry responsive arbitration for telco disputes • Annemarie Mecca Head of Legal, SSA Google
• Mark Lavi Head of Legal & Public Affairs, American Tower Corporation
• Wangechi Gichuki
Head, Legal & Secretarial Services, Safaricom PLC
• Felix Okoth Co-Founder & CTO mTek Services
Cecil Kuyo
Partner, Bowmans Kenya
16:00 16:30 Tea Break & Networking Session

Sub-Theme: The Energy Sector

Starting Time Ending Time Event Speaker Moderator
8.00 8:30 Registration NCIA Secretariat
8.30 10:00 HKIAC Breakfast Session
“Arbitration Insight: Bridging Africa and Asia”
Current Trade and Investment Landscape between African and Asia.
Register: https://hkiac.glueup.com/event/130440/
• Aisha Abdallah - Partner, ALN Kenya
• Emmanuel Jacomy-Partner, A&O
• Huawei Sun SC - Zhong Lun Law Firm  • Shearman  Sheila Mammet - Senior State Counsel, OAG-K
Joanne Lau
Secretatry
General, HKIAC
10.00 10:15 Tea Break
10:15 11:15 Solar Promises, Cloudy Outcomes: Renewable Energy Disputes 2.0 • CS Ibrahim Kitoo, CP3P, Corporation Secretary & Director, Legal Services, EPRA
• Beatrice Nyabira
Partner, Projects & Infrastructure, IKM Advocates/DLA Piper
• Beatrice Chebelyon - Contracts Manager, KenGen
Robert Dachi
Partner, Nyaanga
& Mugisha
Advocates
11:15 12:15 Leaders Panel: Green Dreams, Hard Reality: Arbitrating Africa’s Energy Future - Is Africa ready for the energy transition?
- Who’s paying for net-zero promises?
- When energy policies collide with project realities
• Dr. Victoria Nalule
Lawyer & Energy & Mining expert
• Dr. Maurice Okeyo, FCIArb Head of Projects Monitoring & Evaluation, Kengen
• CS. Justus Wabuyabo CEO, Nuclear Power & Energy Agency
Barbara Kilei
Country Manager,
IDLO Uganda
12:15 13:15 Green Energy, Red Flags: Investment Disputes in African Energy & Mining Projects • Ken Melly
Partner, G&A Advocates LLP
• Michael Greenop FCIArb Counsel, WilmerHale
• Juvenalis Ngowi FCIArb Dentons Tanzania
Brenda Wagura,
MCIArb - CLG,
Lawyer & Business
Advisor
13.15 14:15 Lunch
14:15 15:15 When Infrastructure Projects Implode: Lessons from Africa’s Mega infrastructure Disputes • Eng. Paul Karekezi, FCIArb Director, GIBB Africa
• Jude Obiero
Legal Manager, Moja Expressway
• Faith Chelangat
Consultant, ALN Kenya
• Mapanza M. Nkwilimba
Legal Director, DLA Piper
Mercy A. Okiro,
FCIArb
Chair, National
Construction
Authority
15:15 16:15 When Time is of the essence: A Case for Construction Adjudication in resolving Construction Disputes • Eng. Anthony Sang,
Chief Manager, Konza
• Zack Alakonya
Alakonya Law LLP
• Eng. Bwalya Lumbwe Managing Consultant, Incipio
• Paula Ochango
Legal Counsel, Mota-Engil, Engenharia E Construcao Africa,
S.A
Samuel M.
Nderitu, FCIArb
CIArb Kenya Chair,
Emeritus
16:15 16:30 Tea Break
16:30 18.00 Cocktail - Beyond the Dispute: Arbitration and Enforcement in the Client’s Strategic Ecosystem • Claire Davidson - Co-founder, DRD Partnership
• Emily Beirne - Lawyer, Kobre & Kim
• Oliver Stern - Managing Director, Kroll London
• Nikita Bernardi - Director, Adili Group
Salim Amin
Chairman,
Camerapix

CIARB Kenya 9th International Arbitration Conference: The Path to Sustainability in Practice

 

Starting Time Ending Time Event Speaker Moderator
8.00 8:30 Registration NCIA Secretariat
8.30 9:15 The Chairman Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address – Ciarb Global President
Chief Justice Martha Koome
• Jacqueline Waihenya - Chairperson, CIArb,Kenya
• Prof. Dr. Mohamed Wahab - President of the Ciarb (2025)
• John Ohaga SC, C.Arb, FCIArb
Senior Partner, TripleOKLaw
Advocates
• Dr. (Arch) Sylvia M. Kasanga, FCIArb
9.15 10:15
  • Courts & Arbitration in numbers, A Ciarb & Judiciary Roundtable
  • Hon. Justice Smokin Wanjala, Supreme Court Judge

• Hon. Dr. Mumba Malila SC, Chief Justice of
the Republic of Zambia
• Jacqueline Waihenya - Chairperson, CIArb,Kenya
• Justice Charles Kajimanaga, Rtd. Judge - Supreme Court of Zambia

Dr. Wyne Mutuma,
C.Arb, FCIArb
CIArb Kenya, Vice Chair
10:15 10:45 Tea Break
10:45 11:45 Local Seats, Global Standards: Closing the Divide to Uphold Ethics and Integrity in Arbitration. • Prof. Githu Muigai, SC, C.Arb, FCIArb - Senior
Partner, Mohammed Muigai LLP
• Kamau Karori, SC, C.Arb, FCIArb - Senior Partner, IKM Advocates
• Dr. Mohammed Wahab, CIArb, FCIArb., Ciarb President
• Nakasamba Banda, FCIArb, Chair, Ciarb Zambia
Noella Lubano,
Partner, Oraro & Co. Advocates
11:45 12:00 Keynote Address: • Hon. Chief Justice Martha Koome, EGH Chief Justice of The Republic of Kenya and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

Patron CIarB Kenya

12:00 13:00 Show me the Green: Integrating Sustainable practices in the Arbitration profession • Njeri Kariuki C.Arb, FCIArb Chartered Arbitrator & Accredited Mediator
• Gaston Kenfack, President AfAA
• Njoroge Regeru C.Arb, FCIArb Managing Partner, Njoroge Regeru and Company Advocates
• Athanase Rutabingwa C.Arb, FCIArb Chairman, CIARB Rwanda
Nchimunya Bernadette
Director Legal, State Advocate
Zambia
13.00 14:00 Lunch
14:00 15:00 When saving pennies costs millions: True cost of Pathological Arbitration Clauses • Prof. Elijah Putilin, FCArb
Independent Arbitrator & Counsel
• Dr. Chikwendu Madumere
C.Arb, FCIArb, CIARB African Trustee
• Daniel Nzeki, MCIArb
Luseno & Majanja Adv.
Charles Kanjama, SC, FCIArb,
Senior Partner, Kanjama & Muma
Advocates
15:00 16:00 Fireside Chat
Trends & Projections in Arbitration, What to look out
for in Africa State of arbitration?
• David Kaggwa FCIArb
Chairman, CIARB Uganda
• Calvin Nyachoti, C.Arb, FCIArb, Chairman Emeritus, CIARB Kenya
• Madeline Kimei, MCIArb
President, TIArb
Irene Kashindi FCIArb
Partner, MMK Advocates
16:00 16:30 Book Launch/Italy partners panel
16:30 17.30 Tea Break & Networking Session Ecosystem

Sub-Theme: The Future Resilience of Arbitration

Starting Time Ending Time Event Speaker Moderator
8.30 9:00 Registration NCIA Secretariat
9.00 10:30 Universities Moot Competition Final NCIA • John Ohaga SC, C.Arb, FCIArb
Senior Partner, TripleOKLaw Advocates
• Dr. (Arch) Sylvia M. Kasanga, FCIArb
Architect & Accredited Arbitrator
11.00 11:30 Future Resilience of Arbitration Dr. (Arch) Sylvia M. Kasanga, FCIArb
11:30 12:45 Evolution of Arbitration Rules: Integrating Future Sustainability and Technological
Innovations
• Biko Angwenyi
Associate, Mohammed Muigai LLP
• Georgiadis Khaseke Partner, Mohammed Muigai LLP
• Ms. Balla Galma Legal Counsel, Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Mauritius
Nimo Adan,
Associate, Mohammed Muigai LLP
12:45 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 15:30 This House holds that the role of Arbitration if any, in sustainability related disputes is transient • James Holden - Partner, White & Case London
• Usaje Mwambene - Senior, Legal Counsel, Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS)
• Sheila Mammet - State Counsel, Office of the Attorney General of Kenya
Kananu Mutea,
Founding Partner
KM Associates
15.30 16:00 Moot Competition Award Ceremony &
Closing
Hon. Shadrack J. Mose, CBS –
Solicitor General, Republic of Kenya
16:00 16:30 Tea Break
19:00 23:00 Gala Dinner: Rooted in Sustainability Dress Code: Earth Colors MC
19:00 19:30 Arrival and welcome reception NCIA MC
19:30 19.40 Official welcome and opening remarks MC
19:40 22:00 Keynote Address MC
22:00 21.30 Dinner Service
21.30 22.00 Entertainment
22.00 23.00 Networking and Dancing
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MAIN SPONSOR & HOST

CO-HOST

GOLD SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

LAW FIRMS LED EVENT

KOBRE & KIM
DRD PARTNERSHIP
White & Case
MMAN
Mohammed Muigai
ORARO & COMPANY ADVOCATES
RPC

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Africa Nazarene University
KENGEN
HONG KONG REGIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE
EPRA
Kenya Literature Bureau
Kenya National Library Service
Kenyatta National Hospital
National Construction Authority
Kenya Airways
Kaplan & Stratton Advocates
Wayne & Associates
Alakonya Law
Munyao, Muthama & Kashindi

MEDIA PARTNERS

Kigali International Arbitration Centre
 Russian Arbitration Centre
 Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK)
The Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK)
Women In ADR (WADR)
The Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS)
CIArb Rwanda Branch
CIARB ZAMBIA
GBS Africa
Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration
African Arbitration Association
The Blue Company