List Of Universities Cleared To Offer Law Degrees, Diplomas, And Master’s Programs

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has officially published a comprehensive and updated list of all institutions currently licensed to offer legal education in Kenya.

This gazetted notice, released by various provisions of the Legal Education Act (Chapter 16B Laws of Kenya), outlines the only accredited institutions legally mandated to run law programmes at diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.

The move is part of CLE’s ongoing regulatory role to safeguard the integrity and quality of legal education across the country. By identifying licensed institutions and the validity of their specific programmes, the CLE aims to ensure that all legal education providers adhere strictly to the standards set out under the law, covering academic content, infrastructure, faculty qualifications, and curriculum compliance.

“Under the provisions of sections 2, 8 (1) (b), 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 48 of the Legal Education Act, Chapter 16B, Laws of Kenya, the following are the only licensed Legal Education providers and Legal Education Programmes in Kenya as indicated under each respective cluster.”

At the postgraduate level, only four institutions have been cleared to offer Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes. The limited number signals the Council’s heightened scrutiny and insistence on quality assurance in postgraduate legal education, which often feeds into academia, judicial research, and specialized legal practice.

Surprisingly, the University of Nairobi, long regarded as a powerhouse in Kenya’s legal education landscape, did not feature among the four institutions cleared to offer LL.M. programmes. Its continued absence from the postgraduate list has raised eyebrows within the legal and academic communities.

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The Institutions accredited to offer LL.M. programmes are:

1. Strathmore Law School

• Accreditation valid until April 17, 2030

2. Mount Kenya University School of Law, Valid until March 23, 2026
3. Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Valid until September 21, 2028
4. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Valid until June 20, 2028

This accreditation means these institutions have met the rigorous requirements necessary to offer postgraduate legal education, including adequate academic resources, qualified staff, research capacity, and institutional facilities.

A total of 18 universities have been granted CLE approval to offer undergraduate legal training leading to the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. These include both public and private universities, and each programme’s license has a different expiry date ranging from 2025 to 2029.

The approved institutions for LL.B. training are:

1. UMMA University
2. Africa Nazarene University
3. Chuka University
4. Moi University
5. University of Nairobi
6. Egerton University
7. Kabarak University
8. Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)
9. Strathmore Law School
10. Maseno University
11. South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU)
12. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT)
13. Riara University (Law School)
14. Kenyatta University
15. Daystar University
16. University of Embu
17. Kisii University
18. Mount Kenya University

These universities are required to maintain strict standards in order to retain their accreditation. Periodic audits by CLE examine their teaching quality, student support, libraries, and the legal content of their curricula.

For diploma-level training in legal studies, only four institutions have been cleared to offer the Diploma in Law. These institutions provide foundational legal training for students not enrolled in full undergraduate law programmes and for those seeking entry into para-legal careers.

The CLE-approved institutions for diploma programmes include:

1. Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)
2. Mount Kenya University – Parklands Campus
3. Kisii University

Kenya School of Law – Notably, this is the only institution licensed to offer the Diploma in Para Legal Studies, a distinct programme designed for legal support professionals.

The accreditation of these institutions indicates they have met essential requirements in areas such as student-staff ratios, library and IT resources, and alignment of the diploma curriculum with legal practice standards.

CLE’s publication of the accredited list serves as a formal guideline for aspiring legal scholars and professionals, ensuring they enroll only in approved institutions. It also functions as a quality control mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unregulated and substandard legal programmes that could dilute the profession’s credibility.

Students, parents, and guardians have been advised to cross-check the CLE list before making enrollment decisions. Enrolling in a non-accredited institution could result in disqualification from key legal career pathways, including admission to the Kenya School of Law for bar training.

The council has reiterated that legal education providers not featured in the list are not authorized to operate law programmes in Kenya, and their degrees or diplomas will not be recognized for progression into the legal profession.

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