Few universities and colleges are accredited to offer diploma and degree courses in Kenya.The credited ones have met all the requirements needed by the Council of Legal Education. It is always advisable to pursue your course from accredited university.
If you are a Kenyan who wish to have a successful legal career, read the following article from the Council of Legal Education.
COUNCIL OF LEGAL EDUCATION
GENERAL NOTICE
ACCREDITATION OF LEGAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA UNDER THE LEGAL EDUCATION ACT, 2012 AND THE ACCREDITATION REGULATIONS, 2009
It is NOTIFIED for General information that:
- The Legal Education Act, 2012 has come into effect and the Act embellishes the Council of Legal Education (Accreditation of Legal Education Institutions) Regulations, 2009 formally promulgated under the Council of Legal Education Act, (1995), Cap.16A which is now repealed.Under Section 18 of the said Act, any person or institution offering or intending to offer legal education in Kenya for the award of a Degree, Post-Graduate Diploma, Diploma in Law or certifcate as a professional qualifcation must apply to Council of Legal Education for accreditation of its Programmes. A programme that has not been accredited in accordance with this law shall not have any legal status in Kenya.
- The Council of Legal Education under the auspices of the Council of Legal Education Act, (1995) Cap16A (now repealed) and the Council of Legal Education (Accreditation) Regulations, 2009 has for some time now been engaged with various institutions either as existing legal education providers (as of 2009) or as new and intending legal education providers for purposes of accrediting them. Some institutions have been granted accreditation under various categories for stated periods of validity.
The status and validity of the certifcates granted under the repealed law shall continue to be valid under the new Legal Education Act, 2012 as though the same had been granted under the new law.
- FULLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS
The following institutions have attained Full Accreditation. Full accreditation is valid for a period of four (4) years after which the institution will be re-evaluated for compliance. The date of accredititation is the date when the programme became effective for purposes of recognition.
- Institutions fully accredited to offer Degree (LLB) programmes
| Name of Institution | Campus | Date of accreditation | ||
| i) | Kenyatta University | Parklands Campus | 29.02.2012 | |
| ii) | Strathmore University | Madaraka Campus |
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| iii) | Riara University | Mbagathi Rd Campus | 05.07.2012 | |
| iv) | Kisii University College | Kisii Main Campus |
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- Institutions fully accredited to offer Degree (LLB) programmes
| Name of Institution | Campus | Date of accreditation |
| Kisii University College
|
Kisii Main Campus | 10.09.2012 |
- PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS
The following institutions were evaluated for Interim Accreditation and are currently undergoing the process of Full Accreditation. The institutions were given a specifed period of time within which to apply for full accreditation.
(a) Institutions approved to offer Degree (LLB) programme
| Name of Institution | Campus | Date of accreditation | |
| i) | University of Nairobi | Parklands Campus | 26.03.2010 |
| ii) | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | Karen Campus | 29.03.2010 |
| iii) | University of Nairobi | Mombasa Campus | 20.04.2010 |
| iv) | University of Nairobi | Kisumu Campus | 29.06.2011 |
| v) | Mount Kenya University | Nairobi Campus | 29.06.2011 |
| vi) | Catholic University of East Africa | Karen Campus | 29.06.2012 |
| vii) | African Nazarene University | Ngong Campus | 29.06.2011 |
| viii) | Kabarak University | Kabarak Campus | 09.09.2011 |
(b) Institutions approved to offer Diploma in Law Programme
| Name of Institution | Campus | Date of accreditation |
| (i) Kenya School of Law (Paralegal Programme) | Karen Campus | 19.09.2011 |
| (ii) Inoorero University | Parklands Campus | 06.04.2011 |
| (iii) Nairobi Institute of Business Studies | Nairobi Campus | 08.09.2011 |
(c) Institution approved to offer Post Graduate Diploma in Law
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(d) Institutions approved to offer Professional Certifcate Courses
| Name of Institution | Campus | Date of accreditation |
| (i) Kenya School of Law (Continuing Professional Development) | Karen Campus | 19.09.2011 |
(e) Institutions under Review of Accreditation Status
Whereas the following institutions had initially been granted Provisional Accreditation to offer law programmes, the accreditation is under review for non-compliance.
Name of Institution
- i) Moi University
(ii) Presbyterian University of Eastern Africa
III. NOT YET ACCREDITED INSTITUTION
Although the Council of Legal Education has engaged with some of the following institutions, neither Provisional or Full accreditation has been granted. The public, parents and students are therefore cautioned against dealing with these institutions in any way to indicate that their programmes are recognized by the Council of Legal Education:
Name of the unaccredited Institutions
- i) Bondo University College
- ii) Chuka College
iii) Elgon View College
- iv) Pioneer College
- v) Nairobi Aviation College
- vi) Kiriri Women University
vii) Foundation Institute of Africa Limited
viii) MIS Centre, College of Management
- ix) KCA University
- x) Leader Institute
- xi) Inoorero University
- FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES’ QUALIFICATIONS IN LAW
It is further NOTIFIED for general information that all persons studying or intending to study Law in foreign jurisdictions for purposes of recognition in Kenya MUST comply with the provision of both the Kenya School of Law Act No. 26 of 2012 and the Council of Legal Education Act No. 27 of 2012.
Prof. W. Kulundu-Bitonye, EBS
DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE &
SECRETARY, COUNCIL OF LEGAL EDUCATION
