Summary Report of the International Conference on Requirements for an Independent and Effective Judiciary in Nairobi (Kenya) from 11 to 14 February 2016

Abstract

After Stuttgart (Germany) and Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo - DRC) meetings, another round of conference was organized by the Robert Bosch Foundation, in collaboration with the African Law Association (Germany), in Nairobi (Kenya), from 11 to 14 February 2016. Participants were now invited to identify and discuss matters relating to ‘requirements for an independent and effective judiciary’. Discussions focused on six coun- tries of the African Great Lakes Region (Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tan- zania) and Germany. Professor Hartmut Hamann coordinated the conference which was at- tended by some twenty young lawyers and professionals in all: seven from Germany (judges and public prosecutors who welcomed their African colleagues in Stuttgart in Octo- ber 2014), five from the DRC, three from Rwanda, two from Burundi (advocates, judges, prosecutors or/and university assistant lecturers), and three young lawyers graduated at the Tanzanian-German Centre for Eastern African Legal Studies (respectively from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania).Their exchange was nourished by participation of two experienced judges of the East African Court of Justice, two other practicing jurists in Kenya, including one university lecturer, and Professor Matthiesen Kalala Ilunga from the University of Lubumbashi (DRC).The current report summarizes the content and the outcomes of this conference. Part one sets out the activities accomplished during the conference (1), while part two elaborates on its materials, which include participants’ conclusions and recommendations (2).