Strathmore Law School continues to thrive in mooting both locally and internationally, with our strong mooting culture inspiring junior students to carry the tradition forward. The latest feather in SLS’s cap is Megan Wanjiru Njuguna, a third-year law student in the Judges Group, who was named Best Orator at the Unwanted Witness Moot Court Competition, Regional Rounds held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The competition, which simulates proceedings before the East African Court of Justice, focused on digital national identification systems and their implementation within the East African Community. The moot tested knowledge of data protection and privacy law, as well as regional integration issues, making it a timely and dynamic contest.

Reflecting on her win, Megan shares that her journey into mooting began unexpectedly:

“Well, it’s a funny story,” she says with a smile. “My mooting journey started as a joke with my friend, Allen Ndulu (who was also the researcher for this moot), just before the Cindy Wakio Moot that takes place every year at the Law School. We signed up impulsively, thinking, ‘What’s the worst that could happen? At least we’ll get a certificate at the end!’”

That “joke” turned into something remarkable. Despite being complete beginners with no prior coaching, Megan’s team emerged as second runners-up in the Cindy Wakio Moot. A competition held annually in honour of the late Cindy Yvette Wakio, one of Strathmore’s most celebrated mooters. That experience, Megan says, sparked her love for mooting and motivated her to take on the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition.

Lessons from the Competition

For Megan, the moot was as much about personal growth as it was about legal mastery.

“I gained a ton of knowledge, particularly in data protection, privacy, and East African Community Law, areas I didn’t know I was passionate about before. I also sharpened my research and writing skills during the memorial stage and learned resilience through the long hours of practice and preparation. Most importantly, I learned to appreciate the people around me who made the process fun and bearable.

Looking Ahead

Megan now sees mooting as a key part of her academic and professional journey:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and I’m definitely looking forward to doing it again, hopefully on an even larger stage. I am still carving out my mooting path, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.”

She expressed her gratitude to God, to Strathmore Law School for the platform, to her teammate Ivan Kiriga and to Allen Ndulu for her invaluable research support. She also credited her coaches; Alvin Kubasu, Josephine Kairo, Alex Assenga and Alphonce Barack for their guidance and mentorship.

Megan leaves fellow students with words of encouragement:

“Whatever you’re thinking about, just do it! Do it scared, do it unsure, do it worried. You never know what amazing things are waiting for you on the other side.”

With students like Megan carrying the torch, the mooting culture at Strathmore Law School continues to flourish, inspiring the next generation of advocates.

Article by Evans Ijakaa