Social Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Leadership

The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Leadership is a degree programme that prepares graduates for leadership and management roles in the public sector, non-governmental organisations and corporate governance. The programme is offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, preparing graduates for careers in public service, policy analysis and organisational leadership.

The curriculum covers public administration, public policy analysis, leadership theory, governance, organisational behaviour, human resource management, public finance, project management, research methods, strategic planning, ethics and accountability, decentralised governance and public sector reform. Students develop competencies in policy formulation, public sector management and leadership practices.

Throughout the programme, students engage in lectures, case studies, policy analysis exercises, internships in government departments and research projects. The practical approach ensures graduates can analyse public policy, manage public programmes, lead teams and apply governance principles in real-world administrative settings.

The programme emphasises the development of leadership skills and ethical governance practices, preparing students to address the complex challenges of public administration in Kenya's devolved governance system. Students learn about county government management, public participation, service delivery, accountability frameworks and the integration of technology in public sector operations.

Graduates are equipped to work in county governments, national government ministries, state corporations, non-governmental organisations, international development agencies and private sector governance roles. They play a critical role in ensuring efficient public service delivery, transparent governance and effective leadership in public institutions.

Career opportunities exist in county and national government, state corporations, NGOs, international organisations, political offices and private sector governance departments. Graduates work as administrative officers, policy analysts, governance officers, leadership coordinators and public sector consultants across government and development sectors.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 168,967
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Public Administration
Public Policy Analysis
Leadership Theory
Governance
Organisational Behaviour
Human Resource Management
Public Finance
Strategic Planning
Research Methods
Ethics and Accountability

Modules

8 in the programme

Public Administration Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of public administration, administrative systems and theories of public management.
Leadership Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Leadership theories, styles, approaches and their application in public sector contexts.
Public Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public Policy Analysis: Policy formulation, analysis, implementation and evaluation in government. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Public Finance and Budgeting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public Finance and Budgeting: Public revenue, expenditure management, budgeting processes and fiscal policy. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Governance and Ethics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of good governance, ethics, accountability and transparency in public service.
Organisational Behaviour and HRM
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Organisational dynamics, human resource management and personnel administration in the public sector.
Strategic Planning and Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic Planning and Management: Strategic planning processes, performance management and public sector reform. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Research Methods and Decentralised Governance
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods and Decentralised Governance: Research design, devolved governance systems and county government management. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analys...

Specialisations

County Government Management
Focus on devolved governance, county administration and service delivery at the sub-national 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.
Public Policy Analysis
Specialisation in policy formulation, analysis, implementation and evaluation. 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.
Leadership and Governance
Focus on leadership theory, ethical governance, accountability and organisational leadership. 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.
Public Financial Management
Specialisation in public budgeting, fiscal policy and financial accountability in government. 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 involves attending public administration lectures, analysing policy case studies, participating in leadership simulations, researching governance frameworks, and discussing current public sector reform initiatives in Kenya.

The trade offs

In its favour

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
Graduates are eligible for HELB loans and government funding.

Against it

Limited programme specialisation options may be available.
Competitive job market requiring practical experience and networking.

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 169k

153k at Kenyatta University169k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

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

JKUAT 168,967/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). KU Public Policy 153K/yr. Private unverified.

Government scholarships cover up to 53% of tuition for needy students. HELB provides loans up to Ksh 60,000. DAAD offers scholarships for governance and public administration students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Loan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited undergraduate programmes
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)
Scholarship
Needy students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
Undergraduate students in governance and public administration fields

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE C+ (Plus) OR A Level with two principal passes; OR a relevant Diploma from a recognised institution; OR any other qualification recognised by the university senate and CUE.

How you are assessed

2 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, assignments, and practical exercises throughout the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at JKUAT and aligns with Kenya School of Government standards for public service training.

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

4 roles

Graduate Trainee
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 60,000
Entry-level position applying academic knowledge in a professional environment.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 65,000
Supporting research projects through data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Project Officer
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 80,000
Coordinating and implementing projects in public, private, or NGO sectors.
Analyst
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 90,000
Analysing data, trends, and patterns to support decision-making.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as administrative officers, policy analysts, governance officers and leadership coordinators in county governments, national ministries, NGOs and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for public finance analysis, budget tracking and administrative data management.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for public administration research and policy data analysis.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Software
Presentation software for policy briefings, governance reports and leadership communication.
R
Software
Programming language for statistical analysis and public policy research.
Google Workspace
Software
Collaboration tools for government communication, document sharing and team coordination.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Public administration is only for government jobs.
Graduates work in government, NGOs, international organisations, private sector governance roles and political offices.
The programme is just about office management.
The programme covers policy analysis, leadership theory, governance, public finance, strategic planning and ethics, providing comprehensive public sector leadership skills.
There are no career opportunities in public administration.
Kenya's devolved governance system has created significant demand for public administration professionals at county and national levels.
Public administration is not a leadership programme.
The programme explicitly includes leadership theory, strategic planning and organisational behaviour as core components, preparing graduates for leadership roles.