NCIA PARTICIPATES IN THE 63RD ASIAN-AFRICA LEGAL CONSULTATIVE
ORGANISATION CONFERENCE

As part of the strategic initiatives under the Nairobi Centre for InternationalArbitration’s to enhance awareness of its services, the Centre participated in the 63rd Annual Session of the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) held from 8th to 12th September 2025 in Kampala, Uganda. The conference convened with Member States to deliberate on pressing matters of international law at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, environmental crises, and shifting multilateral dynamics.

Kenya’s delegation to the 63rd AALCO session was a high-powered, multi-agency team led by the Solicitor General, Hon. Shadrack Mose, and included the CEO of the Asset Recovery Agency, Mr. Mark Ogonje, senior State Counsel from the Office of the Attorney General, diplomatic representatives, and officials from the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA). This composition reflected a deliberate strategy: to project Kenya as a regional leader in international law, asset recovery, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and to consolidate its position as a hub for international legal services.

Throughout the deliberations, the Kenyan delegation championed enhanced multilateralism, advocated for strengthened international cooperation, advanced critical candidatures to global judicial bodies, and showcased pioneering frameworks such as the Framework for the Return of Assets from Crime and Corruption in Kenya (FRACCK). The interventions demonstrated Kenya’s commitment to shaping legal norms that safeguard development, sovereignty, and the rule of law across Member States.

NCIA’s Presence and Strategic Impact
Ther Centre was featured among a select group of international arbitration institutions in attendance—an important milestone for the Centre’s global visibility. The Centre leveraged the forum to engage government legal advisers, ministers, and heads of dispute resolution bodies from Asia and Africa.

NCIA presented its performance highlights for the Financial Year ending June 2025, including a growing caseload and notable progress in institutional capacity, thought leadership, and collaboration. These achievements underscore the increasing confidence in arbitration and mediation services, and the positioning of Nairobi as a preferred seat of arbitration within the AfCFTA era. The simultaneous presence of Kenya’s legal governance institutions and the Centre projected a compelling narrative: Kenya offers both the policy leadership and the infrastructure required to resolve international disputes credibly and efficiently.

Conference Highlights: Kenya’s Diplomatic and Legal Advocacy
Kenya delivered several high-level statements, each reinforcing priority themes for Africa and Asia:

1. Opening Statement:
   o Reaffirmed commitment to a rules-based international order grounded in the UN Charter.
   o Called for strengthened cooperation amid global conflicts, climate instability, and a crisis of multilateralism.
   o Sought support for Kenya’s candidature of Prof. Phoebe Okowa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
2. Environment and Sustainable Development:
   o Asserted the urgency of transitioning from principles to actionable accountability in environmental law.
   o Urged capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund with grants, not loans. o Proposed an AALCO Working Group on Environmental Law to harmonize legislation and strengthen collective negotiating power.
3. International Trade and Investment Law:
   o Advocated for reform of the WTO, including resolving the Appellate Body impasse.
   o Called for rebalancing Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and promoting sustainable investment.
   o Highlighted the AfCFTA as a model for South–South trade cooperation.
4. Asset Recovery and Anti-Corruption:
   o Showcased Kenya’s robust asset recovery framework, including conviction and non-conviction-based confiscation.
   o Emphasized cross-border legal assistance and technological innovation, including regulation of Virtual Asset Service Providers.
5. Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):
   o Reaffirmed UNCLOS as the principal legal framework governing oceans.
   o Called for ratification of the BBNJ Treaty and protection of maritime entitlements threatened by sea-level rise.
   

1. Key Outcomes for the Centre
   The conference yielded concrete benefits for the Centre, including:

• Strategic visibility alongside established arbitral institutions such as CRCICA and AALCO-HKRAC.
• Acquisition of seven specialized legal publications to strengthen the Centre’s library and research resources.
• High-value engagements with state legal authorities—critical decision-makers in the selection of arbitral seats for sovereign and commercial disputes.
• Reinforced alignment between NCIA’s mandate and Kenya’s foreign policy objective to become a continental and international legal services hub.