Law

Master of Arts in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

The Master of Arts in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration is a postgraduate programme offered by Mount Kenya University through the School of Social Sciences. The programme provides advanced training in law enforcement, criminal justice administration, and security governance, preparing graduates for leadership roles in policing, corrections, justice administration, and security management.

The programme examines the theoretical and practical dimensions of law enforcement and justice administration, equipping students with knowledge of criminal justice systems, law enforcement management, justice policy, and security governance. Students develop competence in law enforcement administration, criminal justice policy analysis, security management, and organisational leadership.

Core areas of study include law enforcement administration, criminal justice systems, justice policy analysis, security management, criminological theory, police governance and accountability, corrections administration, criminal law and procedure, human rights in justice administration, and research methods. The programme emphasises both administrative skills and justice system understanding.

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

The programme is designed for law enforcement professionals, security sector practitioners, and public administrators seeking advanced training for careers in policing, corrections, justice administration, and security management. Students complete four semesters of coursework and research.

Graduates are prepared for careers as law enforcement administrators, justice administration officers, security managers, corrections administrators, policy analysts, and security consultants in police services, corrections, government justice agencies, private security, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice Systems
Justice Policy Analysis
Security Management
Criminological Theory
Police Governance and Accountability
Corrections Administration
Criminal Law and Procedure
Human Rights in Justice Administration
Research Methods in Criminal Justice

Key Subjects

Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice Systems
Justice Policy Analysis
Security Management
Criminological Theory
Police Governance and Accountability
Corrections Administration
Criminal Law and Procedure
Human Rights in Justice Administration
Research Methods in Criminal Justice

Certifications

IACP Law Enforcement Leadership Certification
APCOF Police Oversight Certification

Specializations

Law Enforcement Administration

Focuses on administration and management of law enforcement agencies including police leadership, operational management, and strategic planning.

Corrections Administration

Covers corrections administration including prison management, rehabilitation programmes, probation services, and correctional policy.

Justice Policy

Examines justice policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation including criminal justice reform and access to justice.

Security Management

Focuses on security management in public and private sectors including risk assessment, security operations, and security governance.

Police Governance and Accountability

Covers police governance, accountability mechanisms, oversight bodies, and human rights in policing.

Criminal Justice Reform

Examines criminal justice reform including systemic challenges, reform strategies, and international best practices in justice administration.

Transnational Crime and Security

Focuses on transnational crime including organised crime, trafficking, cybercrime, and international cooperation in law enforcement.

Juvenile Justice

Covers juvenile justice systems including juvenile offending, rehabilitation, diversion programmes, and youth justice policy.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 147,500
Private, up to: Ksh 131,100
Job market: High

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

Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice Systems
Justice Policy Analysis
Security Management
Criminological Theory
Police Governance and Accountability
Corrections Administration
Criminal Law and Procedure
Human Rights in Justice Administration
Research Methods in Criminal Justice

Modules

10 in the programme

Law Enforcement Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines administration and management of law enforcement agencies including police leadership, organisational structure, operational management, and strategic planning.
Criminal Justice Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers criminal justice systems including police, courts, and corrections, examining the interrelationships and administration of justice system components.
Criminological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines criminological theories including causes of crime, criminal behaviour, and the theoretical foundations of criminal justice policy.
Criminal Law and Procedure
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers criminal law and procedure including criminal law principles, criminal procedure, evidence, and the legal framework governing criminal justice.
Justice Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines justice policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation including criminal justice reform, access to justice, and justice policy instruments.
Police Governance and Accountability
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers police governance, accountability mechanisms, oversight bodies, and human rights in policing, examining frameworks for democratic policing.
Corrections Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines corrections administration including prison management, rehabilitation programmes, probation services, and correctional policy.
Security Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers security management in public and private sectors including risk assessment, security operations, security governance, and private security regulation.
Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in law enforcement and criminal justice.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a law enforcement or justice administration topic, demonstrating mastery of criminal justice analysis and administration.

Specialisations

Law Enforcement Administration
Focuses on administration and management of law enforcement agencies including police leadership, operational management, and strategic planning.
Corrections Administration
Covers corrections administration including prison management, rehabilitation programmes, probation services, and correctional policy.
Justice Policy
Examines justice policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation including criminal justice reform and access to justice.
Security Management
Focuses on security management in public and private sectors including risk assessment, security operations, and security governance.
Police Governance and Accountability
Covers police governance, accountability mechanisms, oversight bodies, and human rights in policing.
Criminal Justice Reform
Examines criminal justice reform including systemic challenges, reform strategies, and international best practices in justice administration.
Transnational Crime and Security
Focuses on transnational crime including organised crime, trafficking, cybercrime, and international cooperation in law enforcement.
Juvenile Justice
Covers juvenile justice systems including juvenile offending, rehabilitation, diversion programmes, and youth justice policy.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on law enforcement administration, criminal justice systems, or security management at Mount Kenya University's School of Social Sciences. Students engage in seminar discussions on contemporary law enforcement challenges in Kenya, analysing case studies of police reform, corrections management, and justice administration. The programme includes policy analysis exercises where students evaluate criminal justice policies and propose reforms. Guest lectures from senior police officers, corrections officials, and justice practitioners provide practical insights. Students participate in security management simulations and justice administration workshops. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on law enforcement or justice administration topics, working on their research project under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's justice sector reform needs, including police oversight, judicial reform, and corrections improvement, making it highly relevant.
Available in multiple study modes including regular, digital learning, and DIBeL, accommodating working law enforcement professionals.
MKU offers flexible payment plans, making the programme more affordable than lump-sum payment requirements.
Strong demand for justice administration professionals in Kenya's expanding security sector and government justice agencies.

Against it

Private university fees are higher than public university alternatives for criminal justice and law enforcement programmes.
Only one institution offers this specific programme, limiting choice and comparison.
The programme may lack the established reputation of older criminal justice programmes at public universities.
Career progression in senior law enforcement roles may require additional professional certifications or security clearance beyond the programme.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 12 law courses

Public148k to 148k

148k at Kenyatta University148k at Kenyatta University

Private131k to 131k

131k at Mount Kenya University131k 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

MKU 59.55K/sem=131.1K/yr (victormatara). KU Security Mgmt 120K+27.5K stat=147.5K/yr (ku.ac.ke).

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, policy analysis assignments, case study analyses, seminar presentations, and research assignments conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering law enforcement administration, criminal justice, and security management, including essay questions and case studies.
Policy Analysis Project
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving analysis of a real-world law enforcement or justice policy issue, demonstrating analytical and policy evaluation skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a law enforcement or justice administration topic, demonstrating mastery of criminal justice analysis and administration.

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.
African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum
Professional certification
Pan-African organisation promoting police oversight. APCOF certification recommended for professionals working in police governance and accountability.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Law Enforcement Administrator
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Manages law enforcement operations and administration in police services, government agencies, or private security, overseeing operational and strategic management.
Justice Administration Officer
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 300,000
Works in justice administration at national or county level, managing justice system processes, policy implementation, and inter-agency coordination.
Security Manager
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 380,000
Manages security operations for private sector organisations, government agencies, or international organisations, overseeing risk management and security programmes.
Corrections Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages correctional facilities and programmes for the prison service or rehabilitation organisations, overseeing corrections administration and rehabilitation.
Criminal Justice Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Analyses criminal justice policy issues and provides research and recommendations to government, think tanks, or international organisations.
Security Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Consults on security risk management, law enforcement administration, and justice system reform for government agencies, private sector, or international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as law enforcement administrators, justice administration officers, security managers, and corrections administrators in police services, government justice agencies, and private security.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for crime data analysis, criminal justice research, and survey data analysis in law enforcement studies.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing policy documents, interview data, and case studies in criminal justice research.
GIS Software
Software
Geographic Information Systems software for crime mapping, spatial analysis of crime patterns, and security risk assessment.
IBM i2 Analyst's Notebook
Software
Visual investigative analysis software used in law enforcement for link analysis, crime pattern analysis, and investigative intelligence.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Law enforcement studies is only for police officers.
The programme is relevant for corrections officers, security managers, policy analysts, government administrators, and private security professionals working across the justice system.
This programme is about learning how to enforce laws on the street.
The programme focuses on administration, policy, and management of law enforcement and justice systems, not operational law enforcement tactics.
Justice administration has no career prospects beyond government.
Graduates work in private security, international organisations, research institutions, consulting firms, and NGOs, applying justice administration expertise across sectors.
Studying law enforcement means supporting the status quo.
The programme critically examines justice systems, including reform challenges, accountability mechanisms, and human rights in policing, preparing graduates to drive positive change.
Kenya's justice system is too broken for this degree to matter.
Kenya is actively reforming its justice system with police oversight, judicial reforms, and corrections improvements, creating demand for qualified justice administration professionals.
This degree is the same as a law degree.
While related, this programme focuses on administration and management of law enforcement and justice systems, complementing rather than replacing a legal education.