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.
Speaking when the Rwanda Law students visited several arms of government including the Supreme Court and National Assembly, Ngayu said 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.
During the visit to the various institutions, the 40 participating students from both institutions sharpened their advocacy skills before experienced legal practitioners as well as gained first-hand insights into the structure of Kenya’s legal process
“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,” Ngayu said.
Other areas where they are set to gain insights include a visit to prisons to understand centered on theories of punishment, sentence mitigation, prison reforms, and governance within the Justice, Law, and Order Sector (GJLOS) reform programmes.
Also on the programme was a visit to Rwandan Embassy in Kenya, where the learners were to engage in discussions on international legal systems, global trends, and best practices in diplomacy and legal affairs.
By Muoki Charles
