The Role of Legal Ethics and Jurisprudence in Nation Building
Strathmore University, Madaraka Campus
29-30 October 2004

On 29-30 October Strathmore University held its Second Annual Ethics Conference with the theme: The Role of Legal Ethics and Jurisprudence in Nation Building. The Conference brought together a wide variety of professionals and scholars in an effort to reflect upon the importance of merging the study of legal ethics and jurisprudence and boosting the relevance these subjects are given at the faculty level in the university education system. The sessions were attended by 400 people, mostly professionals from the legal fraternity of Kenya and East Africa.

The Conference was officially opened by His Excellency Dr M. Awori, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya. In his opening speech the Vice President made reference to the important role played by Strathmore University in lifting the ethical standards of our society and the efforts the government is making to curb corruption. The Conference’s opening coincided with the inauguration of Strathmore University Phase II.

The Conference sessions were chaired by: John Githongo, Permanent Secretary for Ethics and Governance (Office of the President), Dr PLO Lumumba, Secretary of the Consitution of Kenya Review Commission, who also presented an academic paper; Dr Smokin Wanjala, Assistant Director of the Kenyan Anti Corruption Commission; Kenneth Wabwire Akide, advocate, Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya; and Hon. Amos Wako, Attorney General of Kenya, who also officially closed the two-day Conference.

Papers were presented by 15 scholars from Kenya and other countries. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Rafael Alvira, founder and director of the Instituto Empresa y Humanismo of the University of Navarra ( Spain), who also read a paper in representation of Prof. Charles Rice of the University of Notre Dame – Law School. Dissertations were also presented by: Justice (Rtd) Msgr. Cormac Burke, from the Roman Rota; Prof A.J. G. Sison, member of the European Business Ethics Network – Brussels, invited lecturer at Harvard University and professor of the University of Navarra; Henry Lugulu, dean of the Faculty of Law at Moi University; A. F. Gross, arbitrator, who spoke about mediation as a solution for the legal sector crisis; Prof Moni Wekesa, from Kenyatta University; Philip Kichana, from the International Commission of Jurists; Charles Khamala, advocate; Charles Kanjama and Masumi Hashimoto, both advocates and lecturers at Strathmore University; Peter Kwenjera, lecturer at Strathmore University; George Ndemo, lecturer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa; Michael Ntabo Mabururu, from the philosophy department at Moi University, Eldoret and Andrew Ritho, a law student.

The proceedings are currently in print by Strathmore University Press (SUP) and LawAfrica ( Nairobi). The following are a summary of the papers presented.

Speech by H.E. Hon. Dr Moody Awori