Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and County Governance

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and County Governance is a four-year degree programme focused on devolved governance and county-level public administration. The programme equips graduates with knowledge of county government operations, public management, and devolution, preparing them for careers in county governments and public service.

The curriculum covers public administration theory, county governance, devolution, public finance, intergovernmental relations, public policy, research methods, project management, and community development. Students study both administrative foundations and county-specific governance frameworks.

Students develop competencies in county administration, policy analysis, financial management, research, governance, and community engagement. The programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, and research projects. Students analyse county governance systems and conduct research on devolution topics.

Graduates pursue careers as county governance officers, public administration officers, policy analysts, and project officers. They find employment in county governments, national government, NGOs, and development organisations. Kenya's devolved governance system creates demand for professionals skilled in county administration.

The programme is offered at Lukenya University, a private university in Machakos County, with annual tuition fees of approximately KSH 86,200 (KUCCPS code 1495671). The programme is relatively new with no KUCCPS cut-off data yet.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 105,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Public Administration Theory
County Governance
Devolution
Public Finance
Intergovernmental Relations
Public Policy
Research Methods
Project Management
Community Development
County Planning

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Public Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of public administration, including bureaucracy, public management, and administrative theory.
Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of Management: Management principles and theories applied to public sector contexts. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Devolution and the Kenyan Constitution
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Kenya's devolution framework under the 2010 Constitution, including county structures and functions.
County Government Structures and Functions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
County Government Structures and Functions: County executive, assembly, and public service structures and their functions. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relev...
Public Finance Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Government budgeting, revenue mobilisation, and public expenditure management at county and national levels.
Intergovernmental Relations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Relations between national and county governments, including fiscal devolution and coordination.
County Public Policy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
County Public Policy: Policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation at the county level. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Research Methods
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for public administration, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
Project Management in County Government
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Project Management in County Government: Project planning, implementation, and monitoring in county government settings. Covers project lifecycle, resource allocation, risk management, and stakehol...
Community Participation in Governance
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Citizen participation frameworks in county governance and community-driven development.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project on county governance or public administration, including field research and dissertation.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Industrial Attachment: Supervised attachment with a county government or public sector organisation. Provides hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and professional skills development.

Specialisations

County Government Administration
Focus on county executive and legislative operations, county planning, and service delivery. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations
Focus on Kenya's devolution framework, intergovernmental relations, and fiscal devolution. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
County Public Finance
Focus on county budgeting, revenue mobilisation, and public expenditure management. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
County Public Policy
Focus on policy formulation and implementation at the county level. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Community Development and Participation
Focus on citizen participation in county governance and community-driven development. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and case study analysis. Morning sessions cover public administration theory, county governance, or devolution, while afternoons focus on policy analysis, research methods, and group discussions. Students analyse county governance case studies, debate devolution issues, and conduct research on county-level topics. Group projects involve county governance analysis and policy brief preparation.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme specifically focused on county governance, a growing field with devolution.
All 47 counties have administrative positions, creating broad employment opportunities.
Lukenya University's affordable tuition makes the programme accessible.
Graduates develop specialised knowledge of devolution not covered in general public administration degrees.

Against it

Programme offered at only one university, limiting institutional choice.
Programme is relatively new with limited alumni network and established career pathways.
County government positions may be politically influenced.
No KUCCPS cut-off data yet, suggesting low enrollment or recent introduction.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 105k

105k at Mount Kenya University105k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 153K, UoN 189K/yr; MKU 105K/yr (educationnewshub). Lukenya unverified.

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available. Lukenya University offers internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
Lukenya University Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Lukenya University Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at Lukenya University.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with appropriate cluster subjects; OR two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at A-Level; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, essays, case study analyses, and seminar presentations during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering public administration, county governance, and devolution.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on county governance, including field research and dissertation.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of supervised attachment performance, including supervisor evaluation and attachment report.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

County Governance Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Supports county government administration, policy implementation, and service delivery.
Public Administration Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages public sector programmes in county and national government offices.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Analyses and develops public policies for county governments and NGOs.
Project Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Plans and manages projects in county governments and development organisations.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Manages community development projects in county and NGO settings.
Research Assistant
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supports research on devolution, county governance, and public administration.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in county governments, NGOs, and development organisations. Demand is moderate, driven by devolution.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Spreadsheet software for budget analysis and data management.
SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for public administration research.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for reports, policy briefs, and presentations.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for document sharing and team coordination.
Microsoft Project
Project management
Project management software for planning and tracking public sector projects.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme only prepares you for county government jobs.
Graduates work in national government, NGOs, international organisations, and private sector governance roles.
County governance is less important than national governance.
Counties control significant budgets and deliver key services, making county governance critical.
The programme is the same as general Public Administration.
This programme has a specific focus on county governance and devolution, providing specialised knowledge.
There are limited career opportunities in county governance.
All 47 counties have administrative positions, and devolution continues to create new opportunities.