Three law students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) represented the University at the Global Rounds of the Nuremberg International Criminal Law Moot Court Competition, held at the historic Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, from July 22 to 25, 2026.
The JKUAT team, comprising Sewe James Philip Goro, Dennis Kaboro and Kelvin Mutua, all third-year Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) students, competed alongside leading universities from around the world, showcasing their advocacy, legal research and oral argument skills on the international stage.
JKUAT was among 44 teams selected from an initial field of 120 to take part in the Global Rounds and one of only two Kenyan universities to qualify for the prestigious competition. The team’s written memorials were highly ranked, earning them a place among the world’s top-performing teams.
Competing against the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, the JKUAT team advanced to the quarterfinals, with Sewe James Philip Goro being named the Second-Best Oralist. The outstanding performance was particularly remarkable as it marked the University’s debut appearance at the competition.
The competition seeks to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in international criminal law by requiring university teams to argue a fictitious case before a simulated International Criminal Court, testing their legal research, written advocacy and oral litigation skills.
Reflecting on the team’s journey to the Global Rounds in Germany, team leader Sewe James Philip Goro said the competition provided an invaluable opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a practical international setting while interacting with some of the world’s leading law students and legal practitioners.
“It was a great honour to represent JKUAT at the Nuremberg International Criminal Law Moot Court Competition. The experience strengthened our advocacy skills, broadened our understanding of international criminal law and exposed us to diverse legal perspectives from around the world,” said Goro.
He noted that the team faced some of the world’s leading law schools throughout the competition before their impressive campaign concluded in the quarterfinals against TSU, Georgia.
Sewe added that competing against internationally renowned institutions was an invaluable learning experience that challenged the team to sharpen their legal reasoning, advocacy and oral litigation skills while gaining exposure to diverse legal systems and perspectives.
Dr. Dennis Ndambo, JKUAT Moot Court Coordinator and Patron of the JKUAT Mooting Club, lauded the team’s outstanding performance, describing it as a testament to the students’ dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence.
He noted that their achievement reflects the quality of legal training at the JKUAT School of Law and underscores the University’s growing presence in international moot court competitions.
The team’s participation in the Global Rounds was made possible through the generous support of SEED Group LLC, Jones Day, CDH Kieti LLP, Symon Ogeto, and Justice (Ret.) Ann Claire Williams, whose sponsorship enabled the students to represent JKUAT on the international stage.
