Mount Kenya University Chairman and founder, Prof Simon Gicharu addresses the Mku Rwanda school of Law students on completion of a 10-day academic tour to Kenya.
Mount Kenya University said it is working with Rwanda’s Mount Kigali University to facilitate exchange programmes for students to tour and learn from the two countries in what it expects will deepen knowledge and understanding of cultures and professional practices in the two countries for the learners.
Students from the two institutions have just concluded such an exchange, in which 20 students from MKU-Rwanda’s School of Law were hosted in Kenya by their counterparts from MKU.
The 10-day tour was aimed at giving the students, both Rwandan and Kenyan, exposure through travel and interactions with local legal institutions.
The exchange programme, which was concluded on Sunday, saw the students visit different institutions, from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court and the Nairobi Industrial Area’s correctional facility.
Judy Ngayu, director at MKU’s Centre for International and Development Law (CIDLaw) - which facilitated the educational tour, said the department is developing a framework that will concretise such programmes, which will also cut across different departments.
“This programme has been a success, but it must not end here. At CIDLaw, we are now formulating long-term measures to make this exchange program self-sustaining, ensuring that future students continue to benefit from such invaluable academic and professional experiences,” said Ngayu.
“Our goal is to develop more structured collaborations between MKU and MKU-Rwanda and create funding models to ensure
continuous student participation and expand the program to include research projects, internships and legal aid opportunities.”
“We envision a future where this exchange program becomes an institutional tradition, shaping the next generation of African legal professionals. CIDLaw’s Upcoming Activities.”
She said that over the 10-day exchange programme, Kenyan and Rwandan students experienced law in action through courtroom simulations and legislative discussions, as well as visiting correctional facilities and engaging with legal experts.
“This programme has sharpened advocacy and dispute-resolution skills through the Moot Court and Mediation Simulations and provided first-hand exposure to Kenya’s judiciary and governance, including visits to the Supreme Court, Parliament, and the National Assembly,” she said.
She also noted that the tour had deepened students’ understanding of international law and diplomacy, with engagement at the Rwandan Embassy while offering a balance of learning and fun, including the trip to Mombasa. In Mombasa, the students participated in a Mental Health & Leadership Talk led by Dr. Jane Nyutu, co-founder of MKU.
Prof Simon Gicharu, founder and chairman of Mount Kenya University (MKU), said such interactions would open up the worldviews of the learners, enabling them to become better professionals.
Prof Gicharu said this when he spoke to law students from Kenya and Rwanda. The MKU School of Law had hosted their colleagues from the Mount Kigali University School of Law. The students interacted with local institutions, including the Supreme Court and National Assembly.
“We want to see more of this kind of linkage. Going back and forth between Kenya and Rwanda helps you get exposure. We also want to see our Kenyan students also going to watch how law is practiced in Rwanda. We want to see the internalisation of MKU,” Gicharu said.
“Education is a long learning process, and whatever you are doing today will impact you in the years to come.”
Gicharu spoke when he hosted the students in Nakuru at the end of their tour in Kenya. The students from Rwanda presented Prof
Gicharu with a token of appreciation that included a ceremonial spear.
“I do accept the present, especially the spear, and appreciate it. But I will be more grateful if you make use of the resources that you have at your disposal today as you pursue your studies to develop a solid start to your careers,” he said.
In Nakuru Lawrence Karanja, former Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nakuru Branch, delivered a keynote address, sharing insights into the role and activities of the LSK Nakuru Branch, his personal experiences as an advocate, and practical advice for law students.
The students who visited Kenya are the first cohort of law students at the MKU Rwanda’s School of Law. Mount Kigali University was awarded accreditation to offer the Bachelor of Law programme in October 2024. Shortly after, it was accredited to teach the Master of Law Programme in December 2024.
The first group of students pursuing a Bachelor of Law degree joined in January this year. During their visit, the school of law students visited MKU's main campus in Thika.
They also toured Kenya’s National Assembly, where they were received by South Mugirango MP and National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro. At Parliament, they were engaged in discussions on the process of developing and passing legislation as well as the roles of the National Assembly and Senate. Additionally, there was a special focus on devolution and the impact of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The students also visited the Supreme Court of Kenya where Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu, a judge at the Supreme Court, gave them a lecture about the jurisdiction, roles, and key jurisprudence developed by the Supreme Court.
The visit also included a guided tour of the Judiciary Museum, which showcases Kenya’s rich judicial history through preserved legal artifacts and documents.
Following the tour, Kenya’s apex court, Judy Nguru, the coordinator of CID Law, presented a token of appreciation to Justice Ndungu.
“We paired the students from Rwanda with their Kenyan counterparts, and it has been an insightful visit learning not just from the legal institutions but also from their colleagues,” said Nguru.
“We hope to replicate this in the future, where we will have exchange programmes where even Kenyan students can visit Rwanda and see how the law is practiced there.”
They also went to the Rwanda Embassy and met with the Rwandan High Commissioner Martin Ngoga.
“It has been a great learning experience; we are taking many lessons back with us,” said Gloria Nshutinziza, a student from MKU Rwanda School of Law, she noted that among the areas of learning likely to be replicated in Kigali include the Moot Court.
The students participated in a moot court competition where they simulated real court proceedings to sharpen their advocacy skills before experienced legal practitioners.
“We are planning to set up a moot court in MKU Rwanda, and seeing the simulations offered us ideas on how to go about setting one up when we go back.”
