🚨🚨COURT OF APPEAL RAISES THE BAR FOR CUSTOMARY TRUST CLAIMS IN LAND DISPUTES
In a landmark decision that could redefine ancestral land litigation in Kenya, the Court of Appeal of Kenya has ruled that family occupation and blood ties alone are not enough to prove a customary trust over registered land. In David Charo Baya & Others v Robert Kaingu Gunga, the appellants argued that the Kilifi land belonged to their grandfather and had always been occupied communally by different family houses under traditional arrangements. They claimed the land was registered during adjudication in the names of two family members merely as representatives of the wider family. But the Court rejected the claim, holding that the appellants failed to prove a critical element: intention. There was no adjudication record, family agreement, committee minutes, or documentary evidence showing the registered owners intended to hold the land in trust for the larger family.
The Court placed major emphasis on the fact that the title described the proprietors as tenants in common, each holding a defined half share. According to the judges, that registration structure pointed to individual ownership, not fiduciary holding for others. Relying heavily on the Isack M’Inanga Kiebia v Isaaya Theuri M’lintari principles, the Court reaffirmed that customary trust remains an overriding interest under Kenyan land law, but only where supported by credible and specific evidence. The judgment firmly rejected the growing trend where extended family members invoke ancestral occupation alone to defeat registered title decades after adjudication.
The jurisprudential impact is massive. The ruling strengthens certainty of title while sharply increasing the evidentiary threshold for customary trust claims. Courts will now require litigants to demonstrate not only family lineage and occupation, but also a clear intention at the time of registration that the land was to be held for others. For landowners, especially those registered as tenants in common, the decision provides powerful protection against speculative family claims. For future litigants, the message from the Court is unmistakable: customary trust is not presumed from history or sentiment - it must be proved through evidence capable of displacing the sanctity of registered ownership.
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Africa’s next generation of leaders, peacebuilders, and policy shapers, this is your call. 🌍
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Fellowship for African Scholars in Peace, Security and Development.
This 18-month fellowship is designed for young African scholars passionate about shaping the future of leadership, security, and development across the continent.
Fellows will gain:
• A Master’s in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London
• Mentorship from distinguished African experts
• Policy analysis and research experience
• Institutional visits and simulation practices
• A six-month attachment at a leading African university, regional organisation, or Centre of Excellence
More than a fellowship, this is an opportunity to help shape Africa’s peace, security, and development agenda for the future.
🗓 Application Deadline: 24th May 2026
Apply here: https://t.co/0toZJu4tZ4
#WeAreAERC #AERCImpact
🗣️“The future is unapologetically feminist, and we are ensuring no woman is left behind.
As we face a devastating rise in GBV, our role as transformational leaders is critical. We must bring the lived realities of grassroots women directly to decision making tables.Our leadership is incomplete if we do not hold the hands of young women leaders, guide them, support them, and lift them as we climb.”
Lilian Ndinda, Transformative Women in Leadership Coordinator FEMNET
#SRHRDialogues #TransformativeWomenLeadership #WomenLeadAfrica
In the spirit of reflective inquiry, we invite you to our History & Archaeology Seminar Staff Series (April –May 2026) on Memory, Identity dentity, and Transformation. The series shall be hybrid, both onsite and online, to foster inclusive scholarly engagement.
We look forward to your participation.
Onsite : University of Nairobi Towers, 4th Floor Room MLT404
Online : Register on:https://t.co/ehARsDsXil
⚖️ Webinar | Electoral Term Limits in Africa
Join the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) for an important conversation on electoral term limits and their role in strengthening democracy, constitutionalism, and governance across Africa.
📅 14 April 2026
⏰ 03:00 PM SAST
📍 Virtual
This discussion will explore the legal, political, and institutional dynamics shaping term limits on the continent.
🔗 Register now: https://t.co/oJyOqVOH6l
#AJJF #ElectoralReforms #RuleOfLaw #Democracy #Africa #Governance #TermLimits
ISLA is still hiring a Knowledge Production Manager! Are you passionate about feminist knowledge and strategic litigation in Africa?
Apply by 1 May 2026: https://t.co/e05vGeRQvR
#Hiring#AfricaJobs
Law Society alarmed as government handpicks lawyers for title deeds digitalisation pilot
‘Zanu PF simply wakes up and tells us that it's going to choose lawyers for all property holders in the country’
https://t.co/mI1Fky1F8A
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: AU-YVC 2026!
Are you a young African professional ready to gain hands-on experience, broaden your horizons, and contribute to continental development?
The African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC) invites applications for its 2026 cohort. This fully funded 12-month programme places young professionals in AU Member States to serve, learn, and make a tangible impact in line with #Agenda2063 (#TheAfricaWeWant).
We are looking for candidates who:
🎯 Are citizens of an AU Member State
🎯 Are aged 18–35 years
🎯 Hold a post-secondary qualification
🎯 Have at least one year of verifiable volunteer or professional experience
This is a unique chance to:
• Build professional skills across diverse sectors
• Gain cross-border work experience
• Connect with a Pan-African network of changemakers
🔗 Apply now: https://t.co/JeYiCSCK4s
🕒 Deadline: April 26, 2026
🔴🔴BREAKING FROM ELRC: Sexual Suggestive Memes, Jokes and WhatsApp Messages at the Workplace Amount to Sexual Harassment
Many employees endure uncomfortable workplaces in silence - the late-night WhatsApp messages from a boss, sexually suggestive memes disguised as “just jokes”, inappropriate familiarity masked as workplace culture. In RAO v O L & Another (2025), the ELRC confronted this reality head-on. A female employee began receiving sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages, TikTok videos, and inappropriate communication from her CEO. What started as “casual” interactions soon became uncomfortable and distressing. She later resigned, stating the working environment had become unbearable. The employer argued she had left voluntarily. But the Court looked beyond the resignation letter and examined the power dynamics, the digital messages, and the psychological toll. It found that what seemed like a resignation was actually an employee pushed out of a toxic workplace.
Justice S. C. Rutto delivered a ground-breaking finding: Sexual harassment does not have to be physical. The Court held that sexually suggestive memes, jokes, and WhatsApp communications from a superior to a junior employee amount to sexual harassment under Section 6 of the Employment Act. The judge emphasized that such conduct creates a hostile and intimidating work environment, especially where there is a power imbalance. The Court further clarified that an employee in such circumstances does not need to prove criminal wrongdoing; establishing harassment on a balance of probabilities is sufficient in employment disputes. In the end, the Court found constructive dismissal and awarded the employee Kshs 1,320,000 in compensation.
This is a major warning to employers and a huge relief for ordinary Kenyan workers. The Court has now confirmed that workplace harassment can happen on WhatsApp, through memes, or “harmless jokes.” If those actions make the workplace intolerable, the law treats resignation as constructive dismissal, and compensation follows. The message from the Employment Court is loud and clear: Workplace professionalism does not end at the office door; it extends to your phone, your jokes, and your memes.
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We close Women’s Month with purpose and quiet reflection. On Monday 30 March 2026, the @UgandaMFA will host a moment of recognition honouring the women whose dedication, expertise, and leadership continue to shape Uganda’s presence globally. Beyond celebration, it is a reaffirmation of commitment to inclusion, excellence, and the steady advancement of women in diplomacy and public service. 🇺🇬 #WomensMonth2026 #MoFAUganda #WomenInDiplomacy #ECD #VisitUganda
When @Kasuku256 started our conversation by saying that “those days you were fat”🤣, he was correct. And here is proof of then & now! A tribute to my running & spin communities & to the man who changed my relationship with food, @drkasenene
The US Government is increasing pressure on the Zambian Government to sign a health deal that is not in the interests of Zambia by threatening to cut all health aid for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis if a mining deal is not signed soon. The @NewYorkToimes has written an article about this
https://t.co/IYdWmAoav2
Only two days to go! 🇺🇬🤝🇿🇼
I am delighted to invite you all to the Zimbabwe-Uganda Business Forum on Wednesday 18 March 2026 at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Harare. Jointly organised by @ZimTradeAlerts and the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria @UgEmbassySA, this event will forge vital business linkages in tourism, mining & beneficiation, agriculture value-addition, manufacturing, tourism and more. With direct Entebbe-Harare flights now connecting our peoples and Uganda’s vision to grow our economy 10-fold to US$500 billion by 2040, the opportunities for mutual prosperity are immense.
Let us seize this moment to boost trade and advance #AfCFTA goals! See you there. @UgandaMediaCent@UgandaMFA@UgEmbassySA@GCICUganda@ZimTradeAlerts@ugandainvest@ubctvuganda@newvisionwire@DailyMonitor@nbstv@wekesa_amos@ntvuganda
#ZimbabweUgandaBusinessForum #UgandaZimbabwe
⚖️ Annual NOREC Post-Exchange Summit | Access to Justice in East and Southern Africa
Join the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) and partners for the Annual NOREC Post-Exchange Summit as we engage in critical discussions on strengthening access to justice across East and Southern Africa.
The summit will explore key themes including:
• Judicial Independence and Accountability
• Legal Aid & Community Justice
• Human Rights Challenges & Solutions
📅 31 March 2026
⏰ 09:00 AM SAST | 10:00 AM EAT
📍 Virtual Event
Register here:
🔗 https://t.co/bbyYRSrCum
This important platform brings together legal practitioners, justice sector leaders, and human rights advocates to share experiences, solutions, and collaborative pathways for advancing justice in the region.
#AJJF #AccessToJustice #RuleOfLaw #JudicialIndependence #HumanRights #NOREC #AfricaJustice #LegalReform
Tomorrow marks the start of the Zimbabwe – Uganda Business Forum in Harare, the forum aims to unlock trade and investment potential while fostering long-term partnerships between the two nations. We look forward to productive engagements and impactful outcomes. The next chapter of economic cooperation begins tomorrow 18. #ZimbabweUgandaBusinessForum #Trade #ECD #Investment #VisitUganda #EconomicCooperation
H.E. @AmoruPaul, High Commissioner @UgEmbassySA, has called on business communities to embrace the opportunities presented by the upcoming Zimbabwe Uganda Business Forum kicking off tomorrow at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Harare.
Organizede by; @UgandaMFA@ZimTradeAlerts@ugandainvest
Life is happier when we make time to connect with the people around us 🤗
Join us for #FriendlyFebruary and find ways to give your relationships a warm-hearted boost https://t.co/BZj11Sfacg