Ruto signs law to establish special universities for national security studies

President William Ruto has signed into law the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2024, which permits the establishment of specialised universities dedicated to national security.

The new legislation authorises the president to establish new educational institutions focusing exclusively on national security matters.

According to the Bill, the institutions will offer specialised degree programmes specifically preparing students for careers related to national security.

“This shall promote university education for students wishing to pursue specialised degrees in national security issues,” reads part of the Bill.

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• Ruto signs law to establish special universities for national security studies
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The law also includes provisions to reinforce the standards of technical universities in Kenya. It says the designation of technical universities will be limited to public institutions that once were national polytechnics or which possess the necessary facilities and human resources.

The Bill notes that the measure will ensure the institutions maintain high standards of education and are well-equipped to offer robust technical programmes.

“This shall further ensure that technical universities have the requisite facilities and human resource capacity to train university students,’ reads the Bill.

Additionally, the Bill amends the Employment Act (Cap. 226) by exempting the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from its application, similar to other national security organs.

It places the NIS alongside the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Administration Police Force, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, and the National Youth Service, all of which are also exempted from the act due to their crucial roles in national security.

“The justification behind the exemption was in view of national security considerations, as the exempted bodies play a critical role in the national security protection of the country and hence cannot participate in industrial action as provided for in the Employment Act,” reads the Bill.

Ruto said the legislative changes are part of a broader strategy to strengthen Kenya's educational and security frameworks, ensuring national defence and security needs are met through well-trained personnel and appropriate legal support.