Government, through the Council of Legal Education (CLE), has released a comprehensive list of institutions legally authorized to offer Diploma, Bachelor’s, and Master’s programs in law.
The announcement was made by CLE Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Gitiri through one of the local dailies.
This update is part of a routine quality assurance mandate to ensure legal education in the country meets required academic and professional standards.
In the official list released, a total of 26 institutions have been approved to offer various levels of legal education. Among these, only four universities; Strathmore University, Mount Kenya University (Parklands Campus), Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) , have been licensed to offer Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs.
For the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree, 18 universities have received approval. These include leading institutions such as the University of Nairobi (Parklands Campus), Moi University, Kenyatta University, Egerton University and Kabarak University, UMMA University, Africa Nazarene University, Chuka University.
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Others are the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Strathmore Law School, Maseno University School of Law, South Eastern Kenya University School of Law, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology School of Law, Riara Law School, Kenyatta University School of Law, Daystar University School of Law – Athi River Campus, University of Embu School of Law, Kisii University School of Law, and Mount Kenya University School of Law – Parklands Campus.
The licenses for these programs vary in duration, with expiry dates ranging from 2025 to 2029, depending on the institution.
In terms of the Diploma in Law, CLE approved only four institutions to offer the program. These are Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Mount Kenya University, Kisii University and the Kenya School of Law, which offers a Paralegal Diploma.
The diplomas offered are geared towards providing foundational legal training and preparing students for roles such as legal assistants or paralegals.
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What stands out in this latest listing is that only two universities; Mount Kenya University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa, are authorized to offer all three levels of legal education: Diploma, LL.B., and LL.M. This makes them ideal institutions for students looking for a complete legal academic journey under one roof.
The Council’s updated list comes at a time when the legal profession is under increased scrutiny to maintain high standards in both training and practice. By publishing this list, CLE aims to protect students and the public from enrolling in unaccredited programs, which would render their qualifications invalid for professional practice.
According to the 2025 KUCCPS placement report, the Bachelor of Laws program was among the most competitive courses, attracting a significant number of applicants nationwide. The development also coincides with the official launch of the Diploma in Law program at the Kenya School of Law, marking the institution’s first intake for diploma-level legal training.
Students and guardians are advised to consult the CLE website before applying to any institution offering law courses. Pursuing legal education at an unlicensed university could lead to rejection by the Kenya School of Law, which is mandatory for admission to the bar.
By Benedict Aoya and Masaki Enock
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