Profile Summary
Ken Melly is a Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution Practice at G&A Africa, with a practice focused on Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.
- Practice areas
- Dispute Resolution · Technology & Innovation
- Office
- Nairobi Office
He has extensive experience advising and representing public and private sector clients in complex commercial, investment, infrastructure, constitutional and regulatory disputes, including matters involving significant cross-border and international arbitration considerations.
He is recognized for his strategic clarity, deep sector knowledge and ability to navigate high stakes, multi jurisdictional disputes.
Expertise
- Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
- Commercial & Investment Disputes
- Construction & Infrastructure Disputes
- Constitutional & Regulatory Disputes
- Cross-Border & International Arbitration
Industries
- Government & Public Sector
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Construction
- Financial Services & Banking
Experience
- Kenya's elections management body, as part of the legal team advising and representing the body in the Presidential Election Petitions arising from the 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections, including matters that progressed to the Supreme Court of Kenya.
- Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), in a dispute before the Public-Private Partnership Petitions Committee concerning a project valued at over US$320 million.
- The National Irrigation Authority, in a high-value dispute before the Court of Appeal arising from FIDIC contracts for the Mwea Irrigation Development Project (contract value of approximately Kshs. 3.53 billion), concerning the enforcement of Dispute Board decisions and the interaction between contractual dispute resolution mechanisms, arbitration and court proceedings.
- KETRACO, successfully represented in a High Court dispute concerning the procurement, supply and installation of 132kV transmission lines, involving payment obligations, scope variations, extensions of time and termination.
- Intercountries, currently acting in proceedings before the Supreme Court of Kenya challenging a Court of Appeal decision concerning title acquired through the exercise of a bank's statutory power of sale, raising important questions regarding the protection of innocent purchasers and charge-enforcement titles.
Awards & Recognition
- Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) — National honor for distinguished public-sector service.
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).
- Ranked by The Legal 500 for Dispute Resolution (Kenya), including recognition in 2023 and Band 3 ranking in 2024.
Qualifications
- LLM (Dispute Resolution), University of Cape Town — Distinction
- LL.B, Moi University
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law
Professional Memberships
- Law Society of Kenya
- ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
- Young International Arbitration Group
- International Council for Commercial Arbitration
