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Master of Leadership and Governance

The Master of Leadership and Governance is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for leadership and governance roles in public, private, and non-profit sectors. The programme combines leadership theory with governance practice and public policy analysis.

Core areas include leadership theory, governance principles, public policy, strategic management, organisational change, ethics and accountability, development management, research methods, and thesis or project. Students engage with both leadership theory and practical governance application.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Africa Nazarene University. Both public and private universities offer the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in leadership, governance, strategic management, policy analysis, organisational change, ethics, research methods, and academic writing. The programme includes coursework, examinations, research project or thesis, and practical governance exercises.

JKUAT charges KES 126,000/year. Kenyatta University offers the programme through its Department of Public Policy and Administration with 18 units over 2 years. Africa Nazarene University (private) also offers the programme. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as governance officers, leadership consultants, public administrators, policy analysts, programme managers, and lecturers in leadership and governance.

Skills Required

  • Leadership Theory and Practice
  • Governance Principles and Frameworks
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Strategic Management and Planning
  • Organisational Change Management
  • Ethics and Accountability in Governance
  • Development Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management
  • Research Methods in Governance
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Leadership Theory and Practice
  • Governance Principles and Frameworks
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • Strategic Management and Planning
  • Organisational Change and Development
  • Ethics and Accountability in Governance
  • Development Management
  • Research Methods in Governance
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Thesis or Research Project

Certifications

  • KSG Leadership Certification
  • ICPAK Governance Certification

Specializations

Public Sector Leadership

Focuses on leadership in public sector organisations, covering public administration, government leadership, and managing public sector reform.

Corporate Governance

Examines corporate governance, covering board governance, corporate accountability, governance frameworks, and managing corporate governance systems.

Development Leadership

Covers leadership for development, covering development management, community leadership, and leading development initiatives.

Policy Leadership

Focuses on policy leadership, covering policy analysis, policy development, policy advocacy, and leading policy change.

Non-Profit Leadership

Examines leadership in non-profit organisations, covering NGO governance, civil society leadership, and managing non-profit organisations.

Ethical Leadership

Covers ethical leadership, covering ethics in governance, anti-corruption, transparency, and promoting ethical leadership practices.

Duration
2 years
Public, up to
Ksh 216,000
Private, up to
Ksh 220,800
Job market
High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Attachment
0 months
Average class
25 students
Award
Masters

What you study

10 subjects
  • Leadership Theory and Practice
  • Governance Principles and Frameworks
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • Strategic Management and Planning
  • Organisational Change and Development
  • Ethics and Accountability in Governance
  • Development Management
  • Research Methods in Governance
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Thesis or Research Project

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Leadership Theory and Practice

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines leadership theories, leadership styles, leadership behaviour, leadership development, and applying leadership theory in practice.

  • Governance Principles and Frameworks

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers governance principles, governance frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and managing governance systems in organisations.

  • Public Policy and Administration

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines public policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, and public administration principles.

  • Research Methodology in Leadership and Governance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting governance research, preparing students for their thesis or project.

  • Governance, Law and Development

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines the relationship between governance, law, and development, covering legal frameworks for governance and development governance.

  • Strategic Management and Leadership

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers strategic planning, strategic implementation, strategic leadership, and managing organisational strategy.

  • Leading Organisational Change

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines change management, leading organisational change, managing transformation, and implementing change initiatives.

  • Ethics and Accountability in Governance

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers ethics in governance, anti-corruption, transparency, accountability, and promoting ethical leadership practices.

  • Development Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines development management, development leadership, community development, and managing development initiatives.

  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers stakeholder identification, stakeholder engagement, stakeholder management, and managing stakeholder relationships in governance.

  • Research Seminar

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Preparation of research proposal or project proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.

  • Research Thesis or Project

    Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore

    Original research thesis or project on a leadership and governance topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and practical application, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Public Sector Leadership

    Focuses on leadership in public sector organisations, covering public administration, government leadership, and managing public sector reform.

  • Corporate Governance

    Examines corporate governance, covering board governance, corporate accountability, governance frameworks, and managing corporate governance systems.

  • Development Leadership

    Covers leadership for development, covering development management, community leadership, and leading development initiatives.

  • Policy Leadership

    Focuses on policy leadership, covering policy analysis, policy development, policy advocacy, and leading policy change.

  • Non-Profit Leadership

    Examines leadership in non-profit organisations, covering NGO governance, civil society leadership, and managing non-profit organisations.

  • Ethical Leadership

    Covers ethical leadership, covering ethics in governance, anti-corruption, transparency, and promoting ethical leadership practices.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Leadership and Governance programme combines lectures, case studies, policy analysis workshops, leadership exercises, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover leadership theory, governance, public policy, strategic management, and organisational change. Leadership theory sessions examine leadership styles, leadership behaviour, and leadership development. Governance sessions cover governance principles, governance frameworks, accountability, and managing governance systems. Public policy sessions cover policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, and evaluating public policy. Strategic management sessions cover strategic planning, strategic implementation, and managing organisational strategy. Organisational change sessions cover change management, leading change, and managing organisational transformation. Ethics sessions cover ethics in governance, anti-corruption, transparency, and promoting ethical practices. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case studies provide practical application of theory to real leadership and governance scenarios. Policy analysis workshops provide hands-on experience with analysing policies and developing recommendations. Leadership exercises provide opportunities to practice leadership skills and receive feedback. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in leadership and governance. Guest lectures from experienced leaders, governance experts, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis or project on a leadership and governance topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

  • Leadership and governance skills are in high demand across all sectors, with growing emphasis on good governance in Kenya.
  • Programme combines leadership theory with governance practice, providing versatile skills for organisational leadership.
  • JKUAT offers affordable fees at KES 126,000/year.
  • Programme offers both thesis and project options, catering to different career goals.

Against it

  • KU and ANU fee data not independently verified, limiting cost comparison.
  • Programme may overlap with MA in Organizational Leadership and Governance and MA in Public Administration.
  • Programme is broad, which may limit depth in any single area of specialisation.
  • Career outcomes depend significantly on prior experience and sector, not just the qualification.

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
Public126k to 216k
126k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology216k at Kenyatta University
Private130k to 221k
130k at Mount Kenya University221k at Daystar 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

JKUAT 126K/yr (kenyaplex). KU 216K/yr. MKU 130K/yr. Daystar ~221K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KSG may provide training support for public sector leaders. ICPAK may provide professional development support for governance professionals. Some organisations may sponsor employees for leadership and governance postgraduate study.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • KSG Training Support

  • ICPAK Professional Development

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • KSG Training Support

    ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan

    Kenya School of Government supports training and professional development for public sector leaders in Kenya.

  • ICPAK Professional Development

    GrantKsh 100,000Kenyan

    Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya supports professional development including governance training for members.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry
Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. KU accepts Lower Second with two years of experience. JKUAT accepts Lower Second with three years of experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework40% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, seminar presentations, policy analysis exercises, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination60% of the mark

    Written examinations covering leadership theory, governance, public policy, strategic management, and research methods.

  • Practical Governance Assessment

    Practical30% of the mark

    Practical assessment through governance projects, policy analysis, leadership exercises, and applying theory to real governance scenarios.

  • Research Thesis or Project

    Research100% of the mark

    Original research thesis or project on a leadership and governance topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and practical application, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) and Africa Nazarene University (private) offer Master's programmes in Leadership and Governance. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in leadership and governance.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) and Africa Nazarene University (private) offer Master's programmes in Leadership and Governance. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in leadership and governance.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Governance Officer

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages governance systems in organisations, overseeing governance compliance, board support, accountability, and governance reporting.

  • Leadership Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 700,000

    Consults on leadership development and governance, providing advisory services, training, and leadership development support for organisations.

  • Public Administrator

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages public sector organisations, overseeing public administration, policy implementation, and public service delivery.

  • Policy Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Analyses public policies and develops recommendations, overseeing policy research, analysis, and policy development.

  • Programme Manager

    High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Manages programmes in NGOs or development organisations, overseeing programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

  • Leadership and Governance Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaches leadership and governance at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as governance officers, leadership consultants, public administrators, policy analysts, programme managers, and lecturers in leadership and governance.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • SPSS

    SoftwarePrimary

    Statistical analysis software for governance research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis or project.

  • Microsoft Excel

    Software

    Spreadsheet software for data management, analysis, reporting, and managing governance and leadership data.

  • NVivo

    Software

    Qualitative data analysis software for analysing governance research data, interviews, and qualitative research for thesis.

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

    Software

    Presentation software for leadership presentations, governance reporting, policy briefs, and communicating research findings.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

  • Leadership and governance is just about management.

    The programme covers leadership theory, governance frameworks, public policy, ethics, and development management, which are broader than management alone.

  • This programme is only for public sector employees.

    Leadership and governance skills are valuable in private sector, non-profits, NGOs, and any organisation requiring effective leadership and governance.

  • Leadership cannot be taught.

    While some leadership traits are innate, leadership skills including strategic thinking, governance, change management, and ethical decision-making can be effectively taught and developed.

  • This programme is the same as an MBA.

    While related, this programme focuses specifically on leadership and governance, while an MBA covers broader business management.

  • Governance is only about compliance.

    Governance covers leadership, accountability, transparency, ethics, stakeholder engagement, and organisational effectiveness, not just compliance.

  • This programme has limited career prospects.

    Leadership and governance skills are in high demand across all sectors, with growing emphasis on good governance in Kenya and globally.

Related courses

Further reading

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