The University of Nairobi (UoN) has emerged as the National Champions in the Kenyan rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the largest moot court competition in the world.
Moot Court Competition tests law students from universities across the country on their skills in advocacy, legal research, and international law.
UoN students delivered a dominant performance by winning the finals and sweeping all major awards, including Best Submitted Memorandum for both the Applicant and Respondent, at the nationals held at Mount Kenya University.
“UoN Celebrates Excellence! The University of Nairobi is pleased to announce that it emerged as the National Champions for the Kenyan Rounds of the Philip C Jessup Moot International Court Competition,” read the statement from UoN
UoN Students Shine at Moot Court Competition
The team was led by Paul Kituyi and Chris Mboya, who were the oralists whose advocacy in the courtroom played a decisive role in the team’s victory.
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Their preparation, combined with strategic arguments and confident presentation, earned them high praise from the judges.
Other UoN students included Sarah Bora and Britney Kilivutu, who contributed significantly to research, drafting, and practice sessions.
The team’s success was also guided by coaches Ayaga Max and Thomas Shikuku, who oversaw continuous training sessions leading up to the competition.
Their mentorship ensured the team was well prepared for the complex scenarios presented in the Jessup competition, ranging from written memoranda to courtroom advocacy.
As national champions, the UoN team will now represent Kenya in the Global Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, scheduled for Washington, D.C., at the end of March.
About Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is an advocacy competition for law students, held every year since 1960.
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The competition engages more than 700 law schools from 100 countries participating every year.
The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between States before the International Court of Justice, requiring participants to address timely issues of public international law, organized by the International Law Students Association
Teams argue a hypothetical case (The Problem) involving international law, ranging from state sovereignty to human rights.
The Structure of the competition involves a written phase (memorials) and an oral phase (pleadings).
National rounds take place in the participating countries, followed by the White & Case International Rounds in Washington, D.C.
The 2026 White & Case International Rounds are scheduled for March 28–April 4, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
