Strathmore Law School continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Africa’s premier training grounds for future legal minds. This year, the institution achieved a historic milestone by winning the All-Africa International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition for the first time.

Represented by Jonathan Lomole, Eden Adeyemi and John Paul Sifuma (JP), the team first shone at the All-Kenya IHL Competition, earning their place in the continental rounds. After days of intense pleadings, legal arguments, and tough questioning by expert judges from across Africa, the trio emerged as champions.

A Competition That Tests More Than Law

The IHL All Africa Moot is a premier regional competition that brings together law students from across the continent to deepen their understanding of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with partner institutions, the competition allows students to argue a simulated court case, tackling complex legal issues arising in armed conflict from both prosecution and defense perspectives. It is designed to strengthen legal education and sharpen advocacy skills, particularly in the fields of IHL, human rights and international justice.

“It was a real simulation of how things happen on the ground in war-torn countries,” says Lomole.  “Sometimes leaders are negligent, so people in IHL must learn how to talk to them. You don’t just tell them what to do; you break it down, contextualize it and negotiate.”

The students explain that learning IHL forces one to understand the difficult realities of war from leaders with interests to protect, armed groups with non-negotiables to civilians caught in the middle.

“We Felt Like We Had Nothing to Do But Win”

When the results were announced, the SLS team remembers feeling relieved. “We realized Strathmore had won this for the first time and I really felt proud of myself, the people who trained us and everyone who was part of this,” recalls Jonathan Lomole. For them, the win was the natural result of the high standards they had been pushed to meet long before stepping onto the continental stage.

At Strathmore Law School, mooting is treated like preparing for battle. The students explain that the culture set by past mooters pushes every team to show up ready, no matter the competition. “Strathmore has made me always prepare for a fight when it comes to mooting. It’s a battleground and you must expect anything,” says Eden Adeyemi. For John Paul Sifuma, that final announcement marked closure, an end of preparation, of anxiety and the beginning of gratitude, especially to his teammates.

The team attributes their success to the constant support from Malcolm Kibati, a graduate assistant and assistant moot coordinator at SLS. “Malcolm was 100 percent invested, he literally did everything,” they say. His dedication, they insist, embodies the spirit of the SLS family, a community that goes beyond teaching to truly showing up for each other.

IHL, the Moot and Law Studies

For the team, International Humanitarian Law is now beyond just a unit taught in law school. This now seems to be a calling and a new path for them. “IHL means a lot to me. I come from a war-torn country, South Sudan, where there are so many insurgents,” says Jonathan Lomole. The moot changed how he views conflict in his homeland. “As much as people are fighting for their rights, we have to consider civilians. This moot was a revelation for me.”

Eden Adeyemi first encountered mooting during the Cindy Wakio Moot, an internal competition at SLS held in honor of the late Cindy Wakio. Participating in the IHL moot opened her eyes to the real cost of conflict.  “The deaths, the civilian harms, the methods of warfare are so wrong. I want to be part of the committees that ensure justice is actually taken care of,” she says. Her dream now is to work with the ICRC,  “It could be a bridge between my dreams and ensuring these laws are implemented.”

John Paul Sifuma reflects on IHL through a realist’s lens. “Wars have always been there and have been breaking these rules,” he says. “War shouldn’t exist, but now that it is already here, so is IHL; to make sure that despite everything, life continues and people can go back to their daily lives.”

For the team, the moot revealed a gap between theory and reality, where  international criminal law exists in textbooks, yet applying it in real life remains challenging. Their experience in this moot deepened their legal knowledge and their resolve to bring that law into practice.

A Community That Thinks, Trains and Triumphs Together

The team recalls how deeply invested the ICRC organizers and judges were in ensuring that students understood IHL beyond the courtroom. “You could see the dedication,” says Adeyemi. “The judges were hard on us because they wanted us to understand how important IHL is in the real world, especially with all the conflicts happening now. It makes you want to be more than just a mooter.”

For John Paul, meeting experienced practitioners and previous national champions made the biggest impact. “Being around people who practice IHL, people who have won this in their countries, they have so much to offer. It gave us clarity and really deepened our understanding.”

Beyond the academic enrichment, the team was inspired by the relationships formed across borders. Students from various parts of Africa shared a common passion for humanitarian justice. “Having deep conversations with people who think the same way,  you start to appreciate how much everyone has to offer,” Adeyemi reflects. As a Nigerian studying in Kenya, she explains how meaningful it was to meet another Nigerian competitor and connect over shared experiences and aspirations. “Even the friendships and networks we built are part of what we hope will continue.”

Why IHL matters to Kenya, Africa and the world today

“IHL matters a lot because look at what is happening in Sudan, Gaza, Congo and all the conflicts happening in the world,” says Lomole. For him, witnessing constant violations of humanitarian norms is a call to action. “It is surprising to see things that should not be happening. States are oblivious to IHL, and it should be a wake-up call for everyone. Even after war, we still need a country to go back to.”

John emphasizes the need for rules that protect civilians, particularly in heavily affected regions such as Africa. “The world needs rules. You can’t just use any weapons without consideration,” he explains. He cites ICRC data showing that 60% of the organization’s global budget is spent in Africa, reflecting the urgency of the crisis. “There should be no war, but in case there is, IHL must guide it.”

Their experience at the moot has inspired academic direction and career ambition. Adeyemi sees herself working at the frontline of humanitarian law. “I like to get down to the ground, so definitely IHL is something I have a high probability of doing in the future.” The same shift has happened for Lomole and John, whose research and advocacy in IHL have already shaped their legal aspirations. What began as a moot competition is now a path toward defending civilians caught in conflict.

To the Future SLS Mooters

The team encourages future mooters to take advantage of the community of support around them. “Just try out and ask for help from the beginning,” says Lomole. “People are always ready to help. It might not be according to your schedule, but they are always ready.”

Adeyemi emphasizes that mooting demands passion above everything else. “Mooting is a whole other unit. If you do it half-heartedly, it will go south. You have to want it enough. But it’s so rewarding. The friendships, the networks… they’re just something else.” She reflects on the connections she has built through mooting: fellow students, lecturers, graduate assistants and even competitors from other universities.

For John Paul, excellence begins internally. “You can try to find coaches, but if you don’t have that internal drive, it’s going to be hard. The drive has to be there because it needs commitment. Try to improve day by day.” Adeyemi adds a final message of faith and persistence: “You need to want it hard enough. Find your people, find your friends. And if you believe in God, you really need to have faith.”

Their next dream? To begin this journey with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Always, #GoPlacesWithSU

Article Written by Evans Ijakaa