“Education has to be public good, not a commodity; which should extend to health and many other things.”  The words of Dr. Willy Mutunga at the opening of the ALN- Anjarwalla and Khanna Law Library Launch.

The launch of the ultra-modern library was officiated by retired Honourable Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on the 27^th of June 2019. Other key attendees at the occasion were, Dr Vincent Ogutu, Vice Chancellor Designate of Strathmore University; Karim Anjarwalla, Managing Partner ALN Kenya, Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and  Rosa Nduati Mutero Partner at ALN Kenya, A&K LLP; Dr Marisella Ouma PhD, Head of Legal Services at the Central Bank of Kenya; and Gerald Abila, Founder of Barefoot Law.

After approximately one year after the signing of the memorandum of understanding between A&K and Strathmore University Law School, the “ALN- Anjarwalla and Khanna Law Library” was officially opened on the sixth floor of the Sir Thomas More Building. This 15 million facility is a state-of-the-art library designed to support legal academic and professional work with the aim of extending SLS’s ability to impact society through social empowerment.

Anjarwalla and Khanna is a well-established corporate law firm in Eastern Africa with an establishment of 90 lawyers who drive their vision to higher heights. Though based in East Africa, A&K’s influence extends across Africa as a founding member of the Africa Legal Network (ALN), which is an association of recognised world-class African law firms who provide up-to-date legal advice on the dynamics of the global market.

According to Rosa Nduati Mutero, Partner at ALN-A&K, the partnership was something that had been in the pipeline since SLS’s inception in 2012. “Strathmore University has been a very exciting partnership to have. About eight years ago when Strathmore started its Law school we wondered how we could partner with them (SLS) and what we can exchange and offer each other.”

In harmony with these sentiments, Mukami Wangai, Director of Local Partnerships at SLS, agrees that the library further symbolises the bond between the two partners. Ms. Wangai explains that, “Due to a shared belief in setting excellent standards for legal education in Kenya, the African region and globally, A&K identified SLS through its CSR and Pro Bono initiative. This partnership will contribute to improving the learning outcomes of the SLS students and raise the standards for legal education in Kenya.”

This MOU forged in the spirit of collaboration has borne fruit that will increase the positive impact that both ALN-A&K and Strathmore University have on society. ALN-A&K library will achieve this by being more than just a book house, but an asset to public good that will serve society by being a reservoir of knowledge that will quench the thirsty mind.

 

This article was written by Neville Ramogo Otema

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