Mount Kenya University (MKU’s) School of Law is preparing to introduce doctoral studies, making it the second private university to introduce the programme in the country.
The School’s Dean, Dr. Hezekiel Oira, says this is part of the university’s drive to expand access to legal studies from Diploma level to Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels.
Dr. Oira said the introduction of the programme has been necessitated by the positive reception of its Master of Laws (LLM) programme, delivered through a blended mode of study.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at the university’s main campus in Thika town, the Dean said the new programme will come as a boost to legal professionals in their quest to advance their academic credentials locally.
“We have been on track since 2009, when the School of Law was established after approvals from the then Commission of Higher Education before being accredited to offer the LLM programme in 2022 by the Council of Legal Education. Over those years, the school has admitted over 2,500 Degree and more than 1,600 Diploma students,” said Dr. Oira.
Meanwhile, the Dean said the Law school is set to host other law students and some faculty members from Mount Kigali University in March in an academic exchange programme between the sister universities.
Dr. Oira said through this initiative, the students will have interactive lectures, moot court sessions and visits to key legal institutions in Kenya, among them the Judiciary, Parliament, law firms and regulatory bodies.
He said the programme is designed to expose the visitors to the country’s legal framework, judicial processes, and the practical application of the law in different contexts.
“This exchange programme is not only beneficial to the visiting students but also to their counterparts at the MKU-Parklands campus. It fosters comparative legal discussions, broadens perspectives on international legal principles, and strengthens professional networks.
By interacting with legal scholars and practitioners, the students will gain invaluable insights that complement their academic studies,” said the dean.
By Muoki Charles
