Maseno University School of Law has admitted its first cohort of 21 students after its clearance by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) and accreditation from the Council for University Education (CUE) to establish a law school.
Speaking during the inauguration at the varsity’s Kisumu City Campus, Chief Guest Professor. PLO Lumumba he advised the pioneer law students that the world today requires lawyers who are intellectually agile and tech-savvy to enable them to compete with global standards.
“As a lawyer, always strive to be honest, knowledgeable, adaptable, transformative, intellectually agile, and ready to sacrifice at the altar of justice and become an agent of change,” he said.
The Kenya School of Law Director and former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss explained to the budding lawyers that they should earnestly carve a niche that will well define who they are and be able to make sound judgments.
The law, he noted, is divine; it is as old as humanity, and society can’t live without it.
While presenting the day’s topic; “Practicing Law in a Changing Global Environment,” Prof. Lumumba averred that the new law students will define and pioneer how the world sees Maseno School of Law.
He expressed his hopes to see the varsity teach and offer a legal regime in aquaculture as a lot of anthropogenic activities are steadily increasing along the Lake Victoria basin.
Maseno University Vice Chancellor Prof. Julius Nyabundi said that the institution will continue to churn out highly-rated graduates.
“We aim to become the best school of law in the East and Central African region and beyond,’’ said Prof. Nyabundi, who doubles Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chairman.
Maseno School of Law Dean Prof. Nicholas Orago said that the school will lay a strong foundation based on research and regional contemplation.
In this way, Prof. Orago stated that they hope Maseno will be a hub for scholars where students will progress their careers as legal practitioners, legal academicians in government and non-governmental organizations.
“In order for you to practice law, be a scholar, or work effectively in an institution, you have to be an effective researcher. So, research will be one of the core classes we will have and encourage among our law students,’’ Prof. Orago emphasized.
He noted that the school has four qualified lecturers who are PhD holders to teach law, has set up a moot courtroom, a computer laboratory, a well-stocked law library and several lecture halls for ease of learning.
Prof. Orago said that they were looking forward to enrolling students from the East African Community and that the entry mean grade a C+ (plus) with a minimum of B Plain in English or Kiswahili.
To kick start the noble initiative, Orago said they will begin with the LLB program which will provide the mandatory 42 course units.
He stressed that they will emphasize more on Legal Entrepreneurship as law is business and practice as they hope to train and churn out law students who will become efficient managers of law firms and institutions.
“One of the key tools that we will use to teach our students is mooting or having the practical experience of being in a court and being able to argue their cases in court. We will also have comparative learning and student exchange programs with other higher learning institutions offering law to expose our students to different modes of learning for them to grow.” He concluded.
The event was also graced by Tom Mboya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Ocholla.
By Fredrick Odiero
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