Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Governance and Ethics

The Master of Arts in Governance and Ethics is a postgraduate programme offered by Mount Kenya University through the School of Social Sciences. The programme provides advanced training in governance principles, ethical frameworks, and public administration, preparing graduates for leadership roles in governance, ethics management, and public sector reform.

The programme examines the theoretical foundations of governance, ethical decision-making, and the practical challenges of implementing good governance in public and private institutions. Students develop competence in governance analysis, ethics management, anti-corruption strategies, public policy, and institutional reform.

Core areas of study include governance theory, public ethics, corporate governance, anti-corruption and integrity, public policy analysis, leadership and governance, constitutional governance, administrative law, and research methods. The programme emphasises the integration of ethical principles with governance practice.

Mount Kenya University's School of Social Sciences offers the programme through the Institute of Security Studies, Justice and Ethics, providing an interdisciplinary environment that connects governance with security, justice, and ethics. The programme is available in regular, digital learning, and DIBeL modes.

The programme is designed for graduates and professionals seeking expertise in governance, ethics, and public administration for careers in government, civil society, private sector, and international organisations. Students complete four semesters of coursework and research.

Graduates are prepared for careers as governance officers, ethics and compliance managers, public administration officers, policy analysts, anti-corruption specialists, and governance consultants in government, NGOs, private sector, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Governance Theory and Practice
Ethical Decision-Making
Public Policy Analysis
Corporate Governance
Anti-Corruption and Integrity Management
Constitutional Governance
Administrative Law
Leadership and Governance
Institutional Reform
Research Methods in Governance Studies

Key Subjects

Governance Theory
Public Ethics
Corporate Governance
Anti-Corruption and Integrity
Public Policy Analysis
Leadership and Governance
Constitutional Governance
Administrative Law
Ethics Management
Research Methods in Governance Studies

Certifications

EACC Integrity Certification
Kenya School of Government Leadership Certification

Specializations

Public Governance

Focuses on governance in the public sector including public administration, constitutional governance, and public sector reform.

Corporate Governance

Examines corporate governance frameworks, board governance, shareholder rights, and corporate ethics in private sector organisations.

Anti-Corruption and Integrity

Covers anti-corruption strategies, integrity systems, transparency mechanisms, and ethics enforcement in public and private institutions.

Ethics Management

Focuses on ethics management in organisations including ethical frameworks, codes of conduct, ethics training, and ethics compliance systems.

Public Policy and Governance

Examines the relationship between public policy and governance, including policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in governance contexts.

Leadership and Governance

Covers leadership theory and practice in governance contexts, including ethical leadership, transformational leadership, and governance leadership.

Constitutional Governance

Examines constitutional frameworks, separation of powers, judicial review, and constitutional principles governing public institutions.

County Governance

Focuses on devolved governance in Kenya, including county government structures, intergovernmental relations, and local governance challenges.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 218,400
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Governance Theory
Public Ethics
Corporate Governance
Anti-Corruption and Integrity
Public Policy Analysis
Leadership and Governance
Constitutional Governance
Administrative Law
Ethics Management
Research Methods in Governance Studies

Modules

10 in the programme

Governance Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines governance theory including principles of good governance, democratic governance, governance frameworks, and governance challenges in developing countries.
Public Ethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers ethical theory and its application to public service, including ethical frameworks, moral reasoning, professional ethics, and ethical dilemmas in governance.
Corporate Governance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines corporate governance frameworks including board governance, shareholder rights, corporate accountability, and corporate ethics in private sector organisations.
Anti-Corruption and Integrity Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers anti-corruption strategies, integrity systems, transparency mechanisms, and ethics enforcement in public and private institutions.
Public Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines public policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, with focus on governance dimensions of policy processes.
Constitutional Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers constitutional frameworks, separation of powers, judicial review, devolved governance, and constitutional principles governing public institutions in Kenya.
Leadership and Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines leadership theory and practice in governance contexts, including ethical leadership, transformational leadership, and governance leadership challenges.
Administrative Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers administrative law principles including judicial review of administrative action, administrative justice, and the legal framework governing public administration.
Research Methods in Governance Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in governance and ethics.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a governance and ethics topic, demonstrating mastery of governance analysis and ethical evaluation.

Specialisations

Public Governance
Focuses on governance in the public sector including public administration, constitutional governance, and public sector reform.
Corporate Governance
Examines corporate governance frameworks, board governance, shareholder rights, and corporate ethics in private sector organisations.
Anti-Corruption and Integrity
Covers anti-corruption strategies, integrity systems, transparency mechanisms, and ethics enforcement in public and private institutions.
Ethics Management
Focuses on ethics management in organisations including ethical frameworks, codes of conduct, ethics training, and ethics compliance systems.
Public Policy and Governance
Examines the relationship between public policy and governance, including policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in governance contexts.
Leadership and Governance
Covers leadership theory and practice in governance contexts, including ethical leadership, transformational leadership, and governance leadership.
Constitutional Governance
Examines constitutional frameworks, separation of powers, judicial review, and constitutional principles governing public institutions.
County Governance
Focuses on devolved governance in Kenya, including county government structures, intergovernmental relations, and local governance challenges.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on governance theory, public ethics, or corporate governance at Mount Kenya University's School of Social Sciences. Students engage in seminar discussions on contemporary governance challenges in Kenya and Africa, analysing case studies of corruption, institutional reform, and ethical dilemmas. The programme includes policy analysis exercises where students evaluate governance policies and propose reforms. Guest lectures from governance practitioners, EACC officials, and civil society leaders provide practical insights. Students participate in ethics workshops and governance simulations. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on governance and ethics topics, working on their research project under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses governance and ethics together, providing a unique interdisciplinary perspective relevant to Kenya's governance reform agenda.
Available in multiple study modes including regular, digital learning, and DIBeL, accommodating working professionals.
Kenya's devolution and governance reforms have created demand for governance professionals in county governments and oversight bodies.
MKU offers flexible payment plans, making the programme more affordable than lump-sum payment requirements.

Against it

Private university fees are higher than public university alternatives for governance and public administration programmes.
Only one institution offers this specific programme, limiting choice and comparison.
The programme may lack the established reputation of older governance programmes at public universities.
Governance and ethics as a combined field is relatively niche compared to broader public administration degrees.

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

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private131k to 218k

131k at Mount Kenya University218k at International Leadership 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

Maseno ~118.4K/yr. UoN proxy ~220.5K/yr. MKU 131.1K/yr. ILU 218.4K/yr.

MKU offers flexible payment plans in instalments of 40:20:20:20, making tuition more manageable. HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. The university also provides financial aid for students demonstrating need.

Funding options

MKU Flexible Payment Plan
HELB Postgraduate Loan
MKU Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

MKU Flexible Payment Plan
ScholarshipKsh 52,440
All MKU postgraduate students can access flexible payment in instalments of 40:20:20:20, reducing upfront financial burden.
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MKU Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 50,000
MKU students demonstrating academic merit and financial need, applied for through the financial aid office.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is available in regular, digital learning, and DIBeL modes. Annual intakes in January, May, and September. Application fee is KES 2,000 for East African applicants.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, governance analysis assignments, policy briefs, seminar presentations, and case study analyses conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering governance theory, ethics, and policy analysis, including essay questions and case studies.
Governance Analysis Project
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving governance analysis of a real-world institution, demonstrating analytical and governance evaluation skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a governance and ethics topic, demonstrating mastery of governance analysis and ethical evaluation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by Mount Kenya University through its School of Social Sciences, Institute of Security Studies, Justice and Ethics.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
Professional certification
Kenyan anti-corruption commission. EACC integrity certification is recommended for governance professionals working in public service.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Governance Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages governance frameworks and compliance in government agencies, state corporations, or private sector organisations, ensuring adherence to governance standards.
Ethics and Compliance Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Manages ethics and compliance programmes for organisations, developing codes of conduct, ethics training, and compliance monitoring systems.
Public Administration Officer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Works in public administration at national or county level, applying governance principles and ethical frameworks to public service delivery.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Analyses governance and public policy issues, providing research and recommendations to government, think tanks, or international organisations.
Anti-Corruption Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 280,000
Works with anti-corruption agencies or organisations to develop and implement anti-corruption strategies, integrity systems, and transparency mechanisms.
Governance Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Consults on governance, ethics, and compliance for organisations, supporting governance reforms, institutional strengthening, and ethics programme development.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as governance officers, ethics and compliance managers, public administration officers, and policy analysts in government, NGOs, and private sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for governance research, policy analysis, and survey data analysis in governance and ethics studies.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing policy documents, interview data, and governance case studies in research.
Stata
Software
Statistical software used for governance indicators analysis, policy evaluation, and econometric research in governance studies.
World Bank Governance Indicators Dataset
Software
World Bank dataset providing governance indicators for comparative governance analysis and research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Governance and ethics is just about following rules.
The programme examines the theoretical foundations of governance, ethical decision-making frameworks, and the complex challenges of implementing good governance in real-world institutions.
This programme is only for government employees.
Graduates work in government, private sector corporate governance, NGOs, international organisations, and consulting, applying governance and ethics expertise across sectors.
Ethics cannot be taught at the postgraduate level.
The programme provides structured ethical frameworks, decision-making models, and analytical tools that develop professional ethical reasoning and practice.
Governance studies has no practical application.
Kenya's devolution and governance reforms have created strong demand for governance professionals in county governments, state corporations, and oversight bodies.
Anti-corruption work is futile in Kenya.
Kenya has established robust anti-corruption institutions including EACC and ODPP, and governance graduates play important roles in strengthening integrity systems and promoting accountability.
This degree is the same as public administration.
While related, governance and ethics specifically focuses on ethical frameworks, governance principles, and integrity management, complementing rather than replacing public administration.