The Kenya chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Kenya) on 23rd September 2022 hosted the second International Conference on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in a Nairobi Hotel.

The conference discussed emerging trends in ADR and arbitration in Africa while providing a learning and ideas exchange platform for policymakers, arbitration practitioners, enthusiasts, and private sector players who form the consumer market for arbitration and ADR in Kenya.

According to ICC-Kenya, the nascent industry is shaping for take-off, driven by the surge in international trade and investments in the region. This is on the back of increased business innovation, government spending on infrastructure projects, and the opening of new markets and industries that have sprung unprecedented legal and corporate challenges, leading to the uptake of ADR and arbitration, in place of litigation that is seen to be more costly.

"In addition to sensitizing the private sector on ADR, its opportunities and advantages, this year's conference also sets the stage for Kenyan ADR and arbitration practitioners to engage directly with the International Court of Arbitration and progress towards their professionalization in international ADR practice", said Aleem Visram - Chairperson, ICC-Kenya Commission on ADR and Arbitration.

Mr Visram added that ICC Kenya was pushing to grow the number of local practitioners through training and capacity building around emergent sectors such block chain driven online trade characterized by greenfield opportunities and cutting across multiple jurisdictions among other areas. Examples include digital or smart contracts executed automatically without human intervention once entered into, traded digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and non-fungible assets (NFTS), among other technologies.

In her keynote address, Diamana Diawara - Director, Arbitration and ADR for Africa at ICC, said all aspects of the ICC dispute resolution system have been growing in Africa over the past 2 years with arbitration and mediation cases growing by 13 percent and 166 percent respectively, between 2020 and 2021. As it keeps growing in Africa ICC Arbitration will continue to make sure to include African practitioners into its internal organs and the resolution of disputes it administers, she added.

"In 2020, African States represented 40% of African parties involved in ICC arbitrations. In 2021 the figure rose to 50 percent and since 2022 we have deployed a series of training to provide a robust legal platform for users while consolidating the ADR client base in the continent", she Ms Diawara.

Other emerging issues discussed included independence and partiality of ADR practitioners, touching on issues of integrity and self-regulation as well as professionalization and development of the African ADR market to stem the flight of ADR cases generated from Africa but being adjudicated in western capitals.

"We need to be careful not to be an exporter of disputes that can be adequately dealt with locally by ensuring we systematically introduce standards to manage instances of rogue practitioners. We also need to be aware of the aspect of third-party funding as far as compensation and recoveries are instituted to ensure ADR can adapt locally and remain relevant as an option", said Prof. Githu Muigai, EGH, SC, Senior Partner at Mohammed Muigai LLP and also a Chartered Arbitrator.

He added that the interest from young lawyers seeking to specialize in ADR, increased participation of regional institutions and academia in ADR as well as improved support of local ADR mechanisms by the Kenyan Judiciary including the co-opting of local ADR experts in international ADR bodies continues to enrich the ADR space in Kenya. Ms Ndanga Kamau, a Kenyan is currently, the vice president of the International Court of Arbitration.

"We are currently developing an industry database of arbitrators in a standard-setting process that will guide future arbitration in the country and Africa while also easing international access to local arbitrators through the International Chamber of Commerce", said Patrick Obath, Chairperson, ICC Kenya.

ICC Kenya, he added, was in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb Kenya), and the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) to develop programs to sensitize the private sector on alternative dispute resolution working with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).