A signed agreement is only as valuable as your willingness and ability to enforce it. One of the most common calls to our Nairobi office starts the same way: “We think we have a claim , but is it too late?”
What is the statute of limitations for a contract claim in Kenya?
Under the Limitation of Actions Act (Cap 22), a claim founded on simple contract must be brought within six years of the breach. For agreements executed under seal, the window extends to twelve years. Claims against the government follow a different, stricter regime , 12 months’ notice is required.
Which forum should Nairobi businesses choose?
If your contract contains an arbitration clause, the dispute belongs before the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) or the Kenya International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), depending on your drafting. Without one, you are in the High Court of Kenya at Milimani , competent, but slower.
Three signs your contract claim needs attention now
- The debtor has started ignoring demand letters.
- The counterparty is transferring assets or changing directors.
- Key witnesses or documents are becoming harder to trace.
Our contract dispute lawyers in Nairobi offer a confidential first consultation , before the six-year clock does its quiet work.