When two young women, Naomi Kathamba and Wilma Oneko, walked into the final round of the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Banjul on Wednesday, they carried far more than carefully prepared memorials.
They carried the weight of a university that has spent years intentionally cultivating a culture of excellence in legal education. Their win on that international stage was no coincidence. It was the culmination of steady work, strategic mentorship, and a belief that Kenyan students can thrive anywhere in the world.
Africa Nazarene University’s School of Law has quietly built a formidable reputation, one that is only now beginning to receive the recognition it deserves. The victory in Gambia is simply the latest and most visible confirmation of a trend that has been unfolding for years: Kenya is producing some of Africa’s strongest legal minds, trained locally, tested globally, and driven by purpose.
The competition itself was no small affair. The final round of the sixth Edition of the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Human Rights Moot Court Competition brought together teams from across the continent to debate the increasingly urgent theme of climate change and human rights in Africa. Before a distinguished panel led by Hon. Patrick Gomez, the two finalists, ANU and the University of Benin from Nigeria, argued their cases with conviction. That the grand finale coincided with International Human Rights Day only deepened the symbolic weight of the moment.
Naomi and Wilma’s journey to that stage was marked by discipline and determination. After emerging as the top team during the internal selection rounds at ANU, they submitted written memorials that were ranked third among 23 African teams. This early success signaled that ANU was in Gambia not merely to participate but to compete seriously. By the time the semi-finals concluded on December 4, ANU had been ranked first, setting the stage for the December 10 showdown with Nigeria. Their performance was as compelling as it was confident.
Their triumph came with more than just a trophy. Naomi was named Best Orator of the competition, a remarkable achievement in a field filled with strong advocates. The team received more than USD 1,800 as a reward for their win, and Naomi earned an additional USD 728 for her oratory distinction. Perhaps most significantly, both students secured fully paid six-month internships with the National Human Rights Commission of Gambia. These opportunities promise to shape their careers and broaden their global legal experience.
For ANU, the pride in this victory was unmistakable. Prof. Lois Musikali, Dean of the School of Law, captured the sentiment succinctly when she said, “Congratulations are in order. It has been a good semester.” A good semester indeed, one built on years of quiet investment in structured training, internal competitions, mentoring and a culture where excellence is not organic but intentionally cultivated.
Prof. Simon Obwatho, the Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, echoed this confidence, noting that ANU’s moot success has kept the university visible on the national and international map.
This victory fits into a larger arc of achievement. In just the past year, ANU has dominated the Supreme Court Moot Competition in Kenya, performed strongly at previous editions of the Jawara Moot, distinguished itself at the Daystar Media Moot, and demonstrated resilience across arbitration, mediation, environmental justice, human rights, and humanitarian law competitions around the region. These successes reflect an institution that takes practical legal training seriously, an approach that Kenya’s broader higher education sector would do well to emulate.
At a time when universities are often criticised for producing graduates who are unprepared for real-world challenges, ANU’s moot court programme offers a compelling counter-narrative. It shows that legal education can be rigorous, global in outlook, and deeply empowering. What Naomi and Wilma represent is more than individual brilliance. They represent a university intentional about competence, a generation ready to argue human rights issues on any global platform, and a country reclaiming its rightful place as a leader in legal scholarship.
Their win matters because it signals what is possible when talent meets opportunity. It underscores the idea that excellence in legal education is not the exclusive province of older or more established institutions. It can thrive in places where mentorship, vision, and resilience define the learning environment.
In celebrating this victory, we celebrate possibility. Naomi and Wilma’s success in Gambia is a reminder that Kenyan students belong on the global stage, not someday but now. ANU has shown the continent what disciplined training and empowered students can achieve.
Gambia has confirmed it.
Kenya should take note.
Dr Jackline Lidubwi is a media trainer and a lecturer in Mass Communication at the Africa Nazarene University.
