Nairobi hosted the CISG Advisory Council for its first meeting in East Africa and its first on the continent since 2014. The Council had its closed-door deliberations with Ciarb Kenya well represented. The timing was significant. As Africa advances economic integration through the AfCFTA, we must consider whether our commercial legal frameworks are keeping pace with our growing trade ambitions.

Kenya is yet to accede to the CISG, even as key trading partners such as Rwanda and Uganda have adopted it. This raises important questions about contractual certainty, the cost of cross-border trade and the benefits that greater harmonisation of international sales law could bring to African businesses. The discussions will bring together international experts, policymakers, the Judiciary, business leaders and practitioners to examine these issues, including the practical application of the CISG, its relationship with international arbitration and Kenya’s potential accession.

Equally important is ensuring that African perspectives contribute to shaping international commercial law. As our economies grow, so too should our influence on the legal frameworks that support global trade. For the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Kenya Branch , hosting this engagement reflects our continued commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration, advancing professional expertise and promoting a greater role for African practitioners and institutions in international dispute resolution.