This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
Kenyan lawyers gathered in Mombasa this week for the largest gathering of their kind, attracting over 1,200 attendees. The event provided a unique opportunity for the COMESA Court of Justice and the COMESA Competition Commission to promote their programs and services to a strategic target audience.
According to COMESA Court Registrar Nyambura Mbatia, the legal fraternity in COMESA Member States is a prime target audience for the Court, as they mainly represent litigants in court. She noted that many lawyers are not aware of the type of cases handled by the regional court, hence the need to raise their awareness and encourage them to use the court.
Ms. Mbatia highlighted the benefits of the Court's digital evidence management system, CaseLines, which was launched in February this year. The system allows lawyers to file cases online, reducing time and costs associated with manual practices.
She explained that the digital system has eliminated the costs associated with sending documents to the Court or to Judges and airfreights to the venue of court sessions. This has improved the efficiency of the Court's operations and reduced the risk of document loss or misplacement.
Mr. Danson Mungatana, a Commissioner of the COMESA Competition Commission, emphasized the importance of Kenya's role in mergers and acquisitions in the COMESA region, presenting lucrative opportunities for lawyers. He invited lawyers to participate in these processes and provide advisory services to their clients on the need to avoid practices that negate the objective of free and liberalized trade.
