Funding awarded for Kenyan Judicial Science master’s programme

A Cardiff law professor will be instrumental in developing a pioneering Judicial Science curriculum in Africa following funding from the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).

The International Science Partnerships Fund puts research and innovation at the heart of the UK’s international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech and talent.

Professor Ambreena Manji, who is a Professor of Land Law at the School of Law and Politics and Cardiff University’s Dean of International for Africa, will be working in partnership with Kenya’s Kabarak Law School, the Kenya Judiciary Academy and the Katiba Institute to create a new curriculum in Judicial Science.

Judicial Science focuses on the study and application of principles related to the judiciary and legal system. Areas of study can include judicial processes and how they work, legal theory, constitutional law, judicial independence, ethics and legal training.

Professor Manji will work with the Kenyan judiciary and with legal scholars to develop a master’s programme which aims to train future legal professionals and help current judges implement the constitutional values of peace, good governance, inclusion, and the rule of law. The project will create and test new course materials and aims to launch the curriculum in the 2027-2028 academic year, starting in January.

Professor Manji said, “Kenya’s judiciary is seen as one of the most thoroughly reformed institutions in the country, especially since the 2010 Constitution, which gives it a broad range of responsibilities from ensuring social and economic rights to maintaining judicial independence. Kenya's judiciary, including its new Supreme Court, has become important in global constitutional studies so having this expertise onboard in the development of our master’s programme is a real accomplishment.”

The master’s programme is a continuation of a collaboration with the Kenyan Judiciary who visited Cardiff University to discuss opportunities for training, research, and education in September 2023.

This research was supported by the British Council’s Research Collaboration Programme, as part of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).