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Biography
Joshua is a Doctoral researcher at the School of Law, University of Nottingham. His research is funded by the Rising from the Depths Project under the Arts and Humanities Research Council which is a fund derived from the UK Government Global Challenges Research Fund whose financial contribution is dedicated to addressing the complex global issues faced by developing countries in the Global South.
He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree in Public International Law (PIL) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from the same university. He is also a Certified Public Secretary (CPS-K). He has been called to the Bar in Kenya and he is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a member of the Law Society of Kenya.
Before joining the University of Nottingham for his Doctoral studies, Joshua taught undergraduate law students at the School of Law, Moi University-Eldoret, Kenya. He taught several modules inter alia: Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Civil Procedure and Practice, Criminal Law, International Criminal Law and Media Law. He also coached moot courts and his teams participated in international competitions at the University of Oxford-UK.
In addition, he also practised law for several years in a boutique law firm in the city of Nairobi where he represented a wide range of clientele in diverse areas of law. He also consulted for County Governments, multinational corporations and multilateral banks. In showing empathy to the community and ensuring access to justice to the indigent in the society, Joshua offered pro bono legal services to several people while in legal practice.
At the University of Nottingham, Joshua has been serving as a Class Representative to his PhD cohort and acts as a bridge between his colleagues and the university administration. He represents the PhD cohort in the School's Learning Community Forum and articulates their interests to make their learning environment and general welfare better while on Campus. He has also volunteered as a Resident Assistant and maintains a drop-in session for students to address their challenges and any inter-personal issues they may be facing while on campus and escalates any serious concerns to the relevant university staff.
During the course of his doctoral research, Joshua has participated as a speaker in various international conferences on international law including but not limited to University of Leicester-'Legal Challenges in an Age of Uncertainty' Conference, University of Lancaster International Conference, University of York, Rising from the Depths Network Conference etc.
When not busy with his academic work, Joshua teams up with his friends to play mini-golf, bowling, table tennis and through team work, find out hidden clues, unlock potential and think outside the box to test theories to break out from Escape Rooms. He also enjoys participating in Bible Study with his cell group at Beeston Free Church-Nottingham.
Expertise Summary
Joshua's specialism (with focus on Global South) lies in the following areas of law: the whole subject of Human Rights; particularly Socio-Economic Rights, Cultural Rights, Cultural Heritage, Marine Cultural Heritage, Indigenous Rights and Minority Rights. He also has strong research interests in Business and Human Rights-in particular on Accountability of Non-State Actors, Right to Development, Law and Development, Sustainability, Human Rights Based-Approaches to Development, Environmental Governance, Institutional Cosmopolitanism, United Nations and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL). He is keen to advance knowledge in these areas of law which have received little scholarship by publishing papers in peer-refereed journals.
Teaching Summary
Joshua currently participates, on a part-time basis, as a Team Lead in the LLM workshops organized as part of the Legal Skills Programme of the School of Law. The workshops are aimed at guiding LLM… read more
Research Summary
The title of the research is: Integrating Cultural Heritage in the Development of Blue Economy in Kenya: Conceptualising an Accountability Framework for Holding the State Accountable. Joshua is… read more
Recent Publications
JOSHUA MBINDA NGULU, 2018. Efficacy of International Humanitarian Law in Addressing Cyber Warfare as a New Weapon Technology: An Analysis of Gaps and Way Forward. Eastern Africa Law Review. 45(1), 140-166
JOSHUA MBINDA NGULU, 2013. Legislating on a Forgotten Province: A Critical Appraisal of Domestication of Disability Rights in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 Law Society of Kenya. 9(2), 63-83
Current Research
The title of the research is: Integrating Cultural Heritage in the Development of Blue Economy in Kenya: Conceptualising an Accountability Framework for Holding the State Accountable. Joshua is carrying out a novel interesting doctrinal and interdisciplinary research backed by TWAIL as a theory in International Law. His research interrogates on how Cultural Heritage should be integrated in the development of Blue Economy in Kenya. Although the utilization of Blue resources is key to the economic development of the country, however, the unprecedented internationally financed development projects (e.g. the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport Corridor-LAPSSET) being implemented along the Kenyan coast pose massive violations of the cultural rights and cultural heritage to the local indigenous and vulnerable coastal population. The local people's right to active public participation has been violated and the Principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent has been given a wide berth by all the actors involved. The main objective his research is to conceptualize an accountability framework of holding the state and non-state actors accountable in order to respect, protect and promote the rights of the people and further mitigate the negative effects caused by such projects.
Research Supervisors Co-supervising
- Prof Annamaria La Chimia
- Prof Dominic McGoldrick
Future Research
Joshua's future research will be focusing on how non-state actors (multinational corporations and multilateral banks) should be held accountable when (if) they violate cultural heritage in the process of carrying out mega infrastructural development projects in the Global South. This is in the general subject of Business and Human Rights. He is also interested in researching on the Principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and its intersection with Public Participation, Human Rights-Based Approaches to Development and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) in the context of Indigenous Peoples' territories in Kenya.