The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has released an official gazette notice approving a select list of 26 institutions to offer legal education programmes in Kenya. This move is aimed at maintaining quality standards in legal training across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
According to the notice, only four universities have been granted accreditation to offer Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes. These are Strathmore Law School (accredited until April 17, 2030), Mount Kenya University School of Law (until March 23, 2026), Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) (until September 21, 2028), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (until June 20, 2028). Surprisingly, the University of Nairobi long regarded as a legal education powerhouse did not make it to the LL.M. list.
In the diploma category, only four institutions have received approval. These include CUEA, Mount Kenya University (Parklands Campus), Kisii University, and the Kenya School of Law. Notably, the Kenya School of Law is the sole institution authorised to offer the Diploma in Para Legal Studies, underscoring its central role in foundational legal training.
At the undergraduate level, 18 universities have been approved to offer the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. These span both public and private institutions, such as UMMA University, Africa Nazarene University, Moi University, Egerton University, Kenyatta University, and Riara Law School. The University of Nairobi retained its place in the LL.B. category, despite its absence in the master’s category.
CLE’s decision is rooted in the Legal Education Act (Cap 16B), which mandates the council to regulate legal education providers through licensing based on compliance with quality standards. The approval process considers infrastructure, faculty qualifications, curriculum, and academic resources.
This new list serves as a reminder to prospective law students and stakeholders to verify institutional accreditation before enrolling. CLE’s oversight is crucial in aligning legal education with the demands of the profession and the justice system in Kenya.
