Kenvine Odhiambo, MCIArb

Partner, Deputy Co-Head of Dispute Resolution

T: +254 20 272 7171 C: +254 709 830 100 E: kodhiambo@tripleoklaw.com

Kenvine has a keen interest in comparative constitutional law, human rights law, election, judicial review, intellectual property law, land, environmental and natural resource law, and commercial litigation.

Kenvine holds a master’s degree in law, Governance, and Democracy from the University of Nairobi and has won various academic excellence awards such as the David and Mary Kiamba Memorial Prize for 2009/2010 Best Final Year Student in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Nairobi.

He is a trained Arbitrator with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Kenya. He is also a Certified Professional Mediator with the Mediation Training Institute. His interest cuts across the entire dispute resolution space where he has successfully acted in several high-profile cases including constitutional, administrative law, environment and land, tax, and procurement matters for government agencies, transnational corporations, private corporations, and individuals.

Kenvine was part of the team that successfully represented Bidco Africa Limited (one of East Africa’s leading FMCG manufacturers) against the Kenya Revenue Authority over the methodology and parameters of assessment of duty under the East African Community Customs Management Act. The case involved a demand of USD 250 million. This case won the team an Award for the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year at the 2022 African Legal Awards.

Kenvine was also part of the team that put together a strategic defense for the Central Bank of Kenya in a matter before the East African Court of Justice concerning the collapse of Imperial Bank. This case won the team an award for the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year at the 2023 African Legal Awards.

Key Matters

1. York Worldwide Holdings Limited

(A Geneva-based Company) concerning a constitutional petition that sought to enforce our client’s property rights after the Commission of Inquiry into the illegal/irregular allocation of land famously known as the “The Ndungu Report”. The intended use of the land is for the development of hotels, offices, and serviced apartments valued at USD 13 million (KES 1.8 billion) to serve the United Nations and diplomatic community thus creating economic development for the country.

2. Bidco Africa formerly Bidco Oil Refineries (Bidco)

(One of East Africa’s leading FMCG manufacturers) in a Tax Appeal against the demand from the Kenyan Commissioner of Customs Services valued at USD 10 million (KES 1.4 billion).

3. Bidco Africa formerly Bidco Oil Refineries (Bidco)

In connection with an Appeal before the Tax Appeals Tribunal after the Kenya Revenue Authority, demanded payment of more than USD 9.6 million (KES 1.3 billion).

4. Leisure Lodges Limited

In a constitutional petition seeking protection of their prime beachfront property valued at USD 7.2 million (KES 1 billion) from unlawful subdivision and allocation.

5. Krisco Holdings Limited

In a suit for the protection of their property valued at USD 334 thousand (KES 45 million).

6. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

(The monetary authority of Kenya). This was concerning a successful defense of the CBK’s demonetization, procurement, and issuance processes of the new currency (notes and coins) before the Public Procurement Appeals Review Board, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. This case had significant economic effects including encouraging many SMEs to adopt digital infrastructure for cashless transactions to avert the danger of cash shortages.

7. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

(The monetary authority of Kenya)