Mount Kenya University to start offering PhD in law

Mount Kenya University (MKU’s) School of Law is preparing to introduce doctoral studies to enable more legal professionals to earn advanced academic credentials locally.

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. So far, only two universities (one public and one private) train legal professionals to that level. “MKU will become the second private university in Kenya to offer this programme,” says Dr. Oira, referring to the doctoral studies.

The dean says the school has been encouraged by the positive reception of its Master of Laws (LLM) programme, delivered through a blended mode of study. He explains that working people find this mode convenient for its interactivity as well as self-paced progression. “It is an a la carte programme designed to meet diverse scholastic needs, styles and requirements – and is accessible in places and at a time individually chosen by learners,” he stresses, pointing out that universities in the UK and South Africa employ a similar mode of study.

“We prepare curriculum content for every lesson and post it for the students to access,” Dr. Oira says, likening this to the recording of broadcast content for later viewing. After studying the content, students answer questions weekly to confirm they have understood what they have read.

The Council of Legal Education accredited MKU School of Law to offer the LLM programme in 2022. The first intake was in May 2023, with three cohorts currently in session. The MKU School of Law was established in September 2009 following approval by the then Commission for Higher Education. To date, it has admitted a total of over 2,500 degree and more than 1,600 diploma students.

The MKU School of Law has shaped the careers of thousands of former students. One of the school’s graduates, Dr. Fredrick Otieno Aoko, an advocate, arbitrator, and mediator, says: “The practical experiences such as moot court competitions, legal aid clinics, and industry linkages, prepared me for a global legal landscape, enabling me to become an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a New York Attorney, and a member of esteemed international legal organisations.”

Another alumnus, Ms Eunice Nyokabi, is a qualified lawyer and a Certified Professional Mediator. “MKU played a big role in every decision I made in my career. It sharpened my thinking, strengthened my voice, and deepened my commitment to justice. It wasn’t just about learning the law; it was about understanding power, advocating for the vulnerable, and realising that real change happens beyond the courtroom as much as within it. It taught me resilience, discipline, and the power of using knowledge for impact,” 

Campus History

Since 2009, Law campus has contributed to the training of competent lawyers equipped with the necessary skills needed to achieve that aim, inter alia with knowledge of both national and international laws. The student population is supported by a strong cadre of qualified teaching and non-teaching staff dedicated to making 

Graduates from the programmes pursue certification as legal practitioners, work in government, inter-governmental, non-governmental organizations international organizations and private practice. The Master of Laws (LL.M) offers specializations in the fields of Sports Law, Governance and Rule of Law International Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law and Health Law. 

The campus has benefited from state-of-the art ICT,   integrating modern technology ICT into its learning processes. To promote research and training in international and development law, the MKU Parklands Law campus runs a Centre for International and Development Law which is anchored on research, training, publication and establishing linkages with various organizations.

The Law campus has immense facilities that anchor its program, staff and students. To this end, it has state of the art library, reading areas, ICT facilities, and prayer rooms for diverse religious groups, moot court, and online research journals, among other academic and quasi academic facilities. 

Rwanda campus

Meanwhile, the School of Law is set to host law students and some faculty members from Mount Kigali University, in March. This academic exchange programme, says the Dean of the MKU School of Law Dr. Hezekiel Okoth, is part of the two sister universities' drive to strengthen legal education across borders.

In this initiative, the schools collaborate with its Centre for International and Development Law (CINDLAW). “This is a testament to our shared vision of enhancing legal education through cross-border collaboration and experiential learning,” says Dr. Okoth. “We seek to unlock infinite possibilities in legal frontiers.”

The delegation will be led by the MKU Kigali University’s School of Law Dean, Prof. Fructuose Bigirimana. During the tour, 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. The programme is designed to expose the visitors to Kenya’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,” says the dean. 

Dr Oira paid tribute to his predecessor, the late Dr. Wilfred Mutubwa. He hails Dr. Mutubwa as a visionary leader, an academic icon, and a beacon of inspiration for the legal fraternity who championed alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and academic exchanges. “The late Dr. Mutubwa dedicated himself to contributing to the growth of the MKU School of Law where he diligently served as Dean before his passing last November,” says Dr. Oira.

He adds: “We remember and treasure Dr. Mutubwa as a great academician and a leader whose legacy of professional excellence will inspire many generations. He was a leader, a mentor, and a friend of our law students and many young lawyers in the country. He helped them to find their footing in their fledgling careers.”

The former Dean founded the MKU Law Journal, as well as the legal practice, Dr. Mutubwa Law.