Two questions matter to most parties in a dispute before anything else: what will this cost, and how long will it take? Mediation answers the second with unusual certainty, because the timetable belongs to the parties and the mediator rather than to a court list. The ranges depend on the type of dispute, but the shape of the answer is consistent.
How long does a mediation session take?
A straightforward commercial dispute is often resolved in a single session of one day, sometimes extending into a second day while offers are still moving. More complex matters, such as multi-party disputes, technical accounting questions, or land matters with several interested parties, typically run across two or three shorter sessions scheduled a few weeks apart. Where the offers are already close, a single half-day session is sometimes enough.
How long does court-annexed mediation take?
Where a case is referred to court-annexed mediation, the practice directions set the rhythm: the mediator is expected to convene the parties promptly after appointment and to complete the process within the period the court allows. Even so, the parties influence the pace more than they expect. Delayed documents and decision-makers who are unavailable are the commonest causes of adjournment.
Why does mediation conclude faster than litigation?
- No waiting for a hearing date; sessions are diary-driven
- One structured process instead of pleadings, discovery, and interlocutory applications
- Settlement terms drafted and agreed on the day
- Fewer diaries to align and fewer formalities to observe
Preparation is the main lever for speed. Parties who assemble their documents, agree who will attend with settlement authority, and take advice beforehand usually shorten the timetable further. Ask the mediator at the outset how many sessions they expect to be needed, and diarise them. Diarising early avoids the commonest self-inflicted delay.
Where a dispute is already before the courts, or you are weighing referral, our arbitration and ADR lawyers in Nairobi can advise; our practice areas set out the firm’s dispute resolution work in full.
For guidance on your specific situation, contact CS Advocates LLP , call, WhatsApp, or book a confidential consultation with a certified mediator at our Westlands, Nairobi office.