Kenya School of Law Act

This Act may be cited as the Kenya School of Law Act.

Section 2 provides definitions of terms used in the Act (for example "Board", "Cabinet Secretary", "Director", "financial year", "Roll", and "School").

The Board must meet at least once every three months; its conduct must follow the First Schedule. The Board may create committees and invite outside persons to attend meetings.

Members of the Board shall be paid remuneration, fees or allowances for expenses as approved by the Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

The Board may, by resolution, delegate any of its powers, functions or duties to a committee, member, officer, employee or agent, generally or in a particular case.

The School’s common seal must be kept in custody as the Board directs and must not be used except on the Board’s order; when affixed and duly authenticated it is judicially and officially noticed and orders or authorizations are presumed to have been given unless the contrary is proved.

The Board appoints a Director who is the School's Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Board; the Director is an ex officio non-voting member and, subject to Board direction, manages day-to-day affairs and must maintain staff discipline, conduct examinations (except those reserved for the Council for Legal Education), manage the budget, and perform other duties assigned by the Board.

The Board must appoint other officers and staff of the School as necessary for the School to perform its functions, on terms and conditions the Board decides.

Establishes the Kenya School of Law, states its headquarters, and lists corporate powers including suing, acquiring property, contracting, and performing necessary acts.

Section 4 obliges the School to act as a public legal education provider and sets out its functions including training advocates, continuing professional development, para-legal and specialized training, developing curricula and examinations, and undertaking projects, research and consultancies.

The School has the power to establish and manage a centre for research and training in legal education to further the objects of the School.

Section sets out which officials and nominated representatives make up the School's Board, allows certain Board members to designate representatives in writing, requires the Cabinet Secretary to appoint the chairperson from among members appointed under (2)(f) and (g), and requires the Cabinet Secretary to have regard to gender equity when appointing those members.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the general control and management of the School and must carry out listed functions including approving programmes and budgets, monitoring performance, administering funds, and receiving monies.

A member of the Board must hold office for a term of four years and is entitled to be re-appointed for one further term.

Resignation occurs by notice in writing addressed to the Cabinet Secretary.

A person does not qualify for admission to a course of study at the School unless they have met the admission requirements set out in the Second Schedule for that course.

Applicants must apply in the prescribed form and pay the prescribed application fees; the School must consider such applications and admit applicants who meet the admission criteria.

Section 18 relates to course programmes and course units.

Students must submit to the Director's authority and attend their registered course; the Director must keep attendance records; the Board may exempt a student from subsection (3) in special circumstances subject to the Advocates Act.

The Board may award certificates, diplomas or postgraduate diplomas or other awards; the School may withdraw and recall an academic award if it was obtained through fraud.

Parliament may appropriate moneys for the purpose.

The Board must prepare and approve annual revenue and expenditure estimates at least three months before each financial year, submit them to the Cabinet Secretary for approval, and may create reserve funds; the Board must not increase approved estimates without the Cabinet Secretary’s consent.

The Board must keep all proper books and records of account for the School's income, expenditure and assets.

The Board may invest the School's funds in certain securities and may deposit unused moneys in banks it chooses.

Members of the Board and School officers, employees or agents acting in good faith while performing School functions shall not be personally liable for actions, claims or demands arising from those acts.

The Board remains liable to pay compensation or damages to any person for injury to them, their property, or their interests caused by exercise of powers under the Act or by failures or works.

It is an offence for a person, for purposes including procuring registration as a student, to knowingly make false statements or provide documents or information known to be false.

The Board may, with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary, make regulations for administration and management of the School, covering specified matters such as examinations, staff terms and conditions, fees, student discipline, research and training centre, cooperation with other institutions, and related matters.

Transitional rules: agreements, proceedings and instruments involving the former School are treated as involving the School; officers of the former School become corresponding officers of the School and continue in office subject to any rules under this Act; existing instruments and terms of service are preserved.