First, an apology. The word “keynote” connotes something serious or substantial or at least some important content to convey. To avoid an anti-climax, let me confirm that there is nothing key about my presentation. Further, I have no substantial paper or notes to give you – so keynote is a misnomer. Keynote is what Prof. Antony Anghie gave us at the first TWAIL Conference in 19971 when I was a first year LLM Student and Prof. Gathii’s junior (who was in his final year of doctoral studies) and whose other name was “Radical Deconstructivist.” Prof. Celestine Nyamu (also a doctoral student), was there too. She sat quietly on the front row every so often eye-brows raised in enlightened absorption of erudition. I remember that this 1997 conference, she turned back to shush me as I whispered to my classmate (Dr.) Zachary Lomo that we really must rethink the term “liberal.” Before asking if she would be permitted to make an intervention, she truly looked like Thoth – the Egyptian God of knowledge and wisdom. I can only disclose this now: in part because I have an armed guard!
Cite As: Judge Joel M. Ngugi, TWAIL, Transformation, The National Judge, Academic and Municipal Lawyer, Volume 5, AfJIEL, (2025), 5-15.