Egerton University won the first East African Moot Court Competition, held in Arusha, Tanzania. Four of its law students-William Anthony Kanani, Evelyn Mogere, Said Salim, and Pauline Nduta-came first to secure for the University the first win in this competition.
According to Dr. Ruth Aura, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Egerton University, the competition brought together 16 law students from different East African countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. The event, that was hosted by the High Court of Tanzania at Arusha, was presided over by the Pan-African Lawyers Union and organized by the East African Law Students Association.
The competition thus gave students of law an opportunity to discuss and debate a myriad of contemporary local issues, including human rights abuses, elections, and human-wildlife conflict. Students debated the laws and procedures of the EAC states and the EACJ in fervent fashion to show their knowledge and skills of judicial proceedings.
Dr. Aura said the competition seeks to enhance the knowledge and ability of law students in the region concerning the judicial processes of EAC and the EACJ. She expressed pride over the success of the students, noting that moot court competitions have always been an integral part of the University’s law program since 2012.
The event also provided a forum for the students to share ideas among themselves from various legal backgrounds for a better understanding of regional law and contemporary legal problems. The East African Moot Court Competition is envisioned as a yearly occurrence, with students of the law faculties around East Africa coming together to argue on pressing legal matters, thus deepening their understanding of regional and international law.