Nairobi: Mount Kenya University is in the process of expanding the Centre for International Development Law (CIDLaw), an international legal research center based at the university's School of Law in Parklands to serve Mount Kigali University's School of Law. The Director CIDLaw Judy Ngayu said the move seeks to provide both Kenyan and Rwandan law students with opportunities to conduct legal research as well as other aspects of alternative dispute resolution training and career development programmes.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ngayu emphasized that the expansion of the research center will bridge the gap between legal education and practice through research and policy advocacy. 'Learners will also be trained in alternative dispute resolution, international and development law as well as professional networking and mentorship,' she added.
During a recent visit by Rwandan law students to several Kenyan government institutions, including the Supreme Court and National Assembly, 40 participating students from both institutions sharpened their advocacy skills before experienced legal practitioners. They also gained first-hand insights into the structure of Kenya's legal process. Ngayu remarked, 'So far, the visit has been insightful for our young people from Rwanda, but their counterparts are also learning. We hope to replicate this in the future, where we will have exchange programmes where even Kenyan students can visit Rwanda and see how the law is practiced there.'
The educational tour also included a visit to prisons, providing insights into theories of punishment, sentence mitigation, prison reforms, and governance within the Justice, Law, and Order Sector (GJLOS) reform programmes. Additionally, the students visited the Rwandan Embassy in Kenya, where they engaged in discussions on international legal systems, global trends, and best practices in diplomacy and legal affairs.