Center for Social Justice & Ethics

Introduction

Amajor turning point in the effort to spread the Church’s social teaching throughout the AMECEA area was reached on May 8, 2003, when the Center was formally approved by the University Council. This calculated action was taken in response to the urgent need, especially within the African church community, to promote just social systems and institutions.

The Centre for Social Justice and Ethics carries out a number of activities in the AMECEA region and beyond in line with the three-fold mission of universities: research, teaching and formation, and community service, and in light of CUEA’s motto “Consecrate them in the Truth.”. It seeks to empower different stakeholders on social-cultural issues to enable them to engage in Justice and Peace, human rights, equity and participatory leadership.

The Centre offers academic and outreach programs to the Youth, Justice and peace animators, human rights advocates, policymakers, educators, politicians, administrators, businessmen and women etc. The Center serves a wide range of stakeholders through a variety of academic and outreach programs, including young people, those working to promote justice and peace, human rights activists, legislators, educators, business people, and women.

Promoting the Church’s Social Doctrine within the development of society in the AMECEA countries is an ever-present concern in the orientations and academic programs of the Centre for Social Justice and Ethics. The Church’s Social Doctrine seen as including a perspective of social theology requires:

Deeper research on the status of the Church’s Social Doctrine.
The development of appropriate and effective formation programs.
The development of modules for social action draws from an experience of social questions in specific contexts interpreted in the light of the Gospel.

For these reasons, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa established the Centre for Social Justice and Ethics for study and formation in the Church’s Social Doctrine.

Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro

Director, Centre for Social Justice and Ethics.
Email: csje@cuea.edu.
Call: 0709 691301

About the Director

Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro is the Director, Centre for Social Justice and Ethics. He is a Diocesan priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu (Kenya). He was Ordained in 1995. Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro holds Baccalaureate Degrees in Philosophy and in Sacred Theology from Urbaniana University in Rome, a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Doctorate in Social Doctrine of the Church from the Lateran Pontifical University in Rome (Italy). He is currently a Senior Lecturer at CUEA in the Centre for Social Justice and Ethics (CSJE) and serves as the Director of the CSJE. Since Sept. 2008, he has been teaching in the area of the Social Doctrine of the Church, with focus on Christian Ethics; Justice and Peace; Church Management and Leadership, hence, he has a rich experience.

About The Dean

Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro is the Director, Centre for Social Justice and Ethics.

He is a Diocesan priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu (Kenya). He was Ordained in 1995. Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro holds Baccalaureate Degrees in Philosophy and in Sacred Theology from Urbaniana University in Rome, a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Doctorate in Social Doctrine of the Church from the Lateran Pontifical University in Rome (Italy). He is currently a Senior Lecturer at CUEA in the Centre for Social Justice and Ethics (CSJE) and serves as the Director of the CSJE. Since Sept. 2008, he has been teaching in the area of the Social Doctrine of the Church, with focus on Christian Ethics; Justice and Peace; Church Management and Leadership, hence, he has a rich experience.

He serves as a Co-director of Globethics.net East Africa, an Advisory Board Member of the Globethics.net East Africa Programme. He is the University Ethics Officer, the University Representative in the Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education and a Board Member of the Health Board of the Archdiocese of Nairobi. He coordinates the Njabini Boys High School Alumni Association, in mentoring, motivating students, and supporting the school in infrastructure development. He has been supporting the AMECEA Region Church in the area of Capacity Building, and the local church in conducting Church Leaders’ leadership seminars, retreats, recollections and supporting fund drives for the construction of Church buildings. Giving talks and reflections in the area of Ethics, Justice and Peace in different forums. He supports CUEA family in other areas of community service.

He has authored several works in the area of family, ethics, peace and justice. Rev. Dr. Mbaro is a well-respected author who has made meaningful contributions to academic literature on family, ethics, peace, and justice.

Programs

1. Postgraduate Programs

Master of Arts in Justice, Peace, and Cohesion
Master of Arts in Peace Studies
Doctor of Philosophy in Justice, Peace, and Governance

2. Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Church Management and Leadership
Bachelor of Justice and Peace

Minimum Admission Requirements

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum mean grade of C+ or the equivalent, OR
Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 2 principal passes and a subsidiary pass or the equivalent

2. Short-term Courses

i. Certificate in Church Management and Leadership

Applicants must be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education or the equivalent.

ii. Advanced Certificate in Church Management and Leadership

Applicants must have a certificate in Church Management and Leadership from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

3. Diploma in Church Management and Leadership

Applicants must have an advanced certificate in Church Management and Leadership from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. In addition, they should be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum mean grade of C plain or its equivalent.

4. Diploma in Conflict Management and Peace Building

Applicants must be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education or the equivalent.

5. Diploma in Justice and Peace

Applicants must have an advanced certificate in Justice and Peace from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. In addition, they should be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum mean grade of C plain or its equivalent.

6. Diploma in Governance, Leadership and Elections Management

Apply Here.

Student Life

The student population at the faculty is 746. At the faculty, students develop knowledge in their area of discipline and acquire skills for rewarding and meaningful careers. Student support services are available at the faculty.

Community Service

The faculty is committed to community service in and outside the campus. Faculty community service activities are in line with the vision and mission of the University. Apart from material support, the faculty envisage the service-learning model of serving the community. The faculty has identified educational institutions such as Light Academy and is collaborating with them in the provision of learning materials and other support services.

Mission Statement

Within the overall mission of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, the Centre seeks to promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for the Church’s Social Doctrine and to serve as a resource Centre for the AMECEA region.

Through a network of contacts and cooperative ventures with other universities, centres, institutions and individual resource persons, the Centre seeks to promote research, teaching and service to the ever-growing number of agents of evangelization in the region.

As an interdisciplinary venture, the Centre seeks to promote close integration of theology with other disciplines, especially the social sciences, so as to provide a firm grounding for the Church’s pastoral activity in its African context.

Objectives

In fulfilling its mission as a Centre for research and formation, teaching and service, the Centre is guided by the following objectives:

To provide continuing formation for university staff;
To develop programmes for university students;
To provide outreach opportunities in the form of workshops, lectures, short courses for target groups such as Church leaders, Small Christian Communities animators, policymakers, teachers, businessmen and women, human rights activities, members of justice and peace communities.

Academic Programmes

Rationale

The Centre for Social Justice and Ethics aims at maintaining the lead in training personnel for development in Christian communities and Institutions in Africa. It focuses on the area of Church Management and Leadership, so as to offer the required professional development needed by managers of Church Institutions. The Justice and Peace programmes are designed to meet the demand for a united response to the need for Justice and Peace in our societies in Africa and beyond.

Target Groups

Church leaders, human rights advocates, administrators, policymakers, educators, businessmen and women, justice and peace partners from academia, civil society, policy practitioners and religious groups.

Short courses

The Centre for Social Justice and Ethics offers short courses in the period of May- June. The courses:

Certificate in Church Management and Leadership, and Certificate in Justice and Peace are residential programmes designed for Church leaders and Christian civic leaders and professionals.

Church Management and Leadership is offered at Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma levels, whereas the Justice and Peace course is offered at Advanced Certificate and Diploma levels.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Kenyan applicants must have completed their secondary education and should be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination certificate. Applicants from other countries must have obtained an equivalent qualification. Applicants are expected to have a good knowledge of English, the language that is used for instruction.

Course Duration and Dates: Six weeks; Mid May to End June, annually

Application Deadline: Ends March annually

Fees (Subject to review)

Application: Kshs 2000
Accommodation: Kshs 46,000
Tuition: Kshs 60,000
Total Fee: Kshs 106, 000 (approx. US$1,376)

Payments of fees can be done by Bankers cheque payable to The Catholic University of Eastern Africa or wire transfer to the following bank details;

Account Name; 102 473 108
Swift Code; CITIKena
Bank Branch Address; Citibank House, Upper Hill Road P. O. Box 30711 – Nairobi

Degree Courses

Bachelor of Church Management and Leadership
Bachelor of Justice and Peace

Minimum Admission Requirements

Kenyan applicants must be holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination certificate with a minimum aggregate of C+ or holders of Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of two principal passes and one subsidiary pass. Applicants from other countries must have obtained an equivalent qualification. Applicants are expected to have a good knowledge of English, the language that is used for instruction.

Course Duration

The duration of the course is Four Academic Years or Three Academic Years depending upon one’s entry qualifications. Those who wish to be considered for admission into these programmes should write to:

The Admissions Office
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
P.O. Box 62157
Nairobi 00200 KENYA
Email: study@cuea.edu
Tel: + (254) (020) 891601-6
Fax: + (254) (020) 891084

Department of Ethics

Areas of Specialisation

African Environmental Ethics
African Bioethics
African Social Ethics

Outreach Programmes

Roving Programmes

The Centre offers one-week training programmes in the AMECEA Dioceses on request, in the areas of Justice and Peace, Church Management and Leadership, and Social Theology and Ministry. The programmes are designed to empower people within their locality, especially those who are not able to attend the six-week residential programme at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Radio Programme

The Centre used to run the programme “Social Encounter” on Radio Waumini FM 88.3 on weekly basis for half an hour every Friday from 7.30 p.m. to 8.00. The aim of the programme was to provide awareness of the Church Social Doctrine in simple terms to many who cannot access this body of knowledge in any other way. We also used to have a programme with Radio Amani- Nakuru Diocese on Bunge la wanafunzi where we would give talks on the human person, moral issues and the challenges faced by the youth in contemporary society.

Capacity building

The Centre facilitates training in the areas of Justice and Peace and Church Management and Leadership for various groups of people. Some of the conducted training included:

Capacity building training, the slum dwellers of Kibera and Mathare have helped them acquire knowledge and skills which continue to improve their productivity and living conditions towards the realization of their integral development.
In collaboration with the Africa Circle of Hope and CUEA’s Faculty of Commerce, training on entrepreneurship for women in Mathare slums were offered.
Conflict and management Leadership training
Publishing of posters on contemporary life issues for reflection by the CUEA community. The posters aim at bringing to light aspects affecting human life and invite the community to contemplate and act upon them. They were once published in the Teach Magazine which focused on the students in slums’ schools.
Induction workshops to CUEA administrators and staff with an aim of integrating the principles found in the Catholic Social Doctrine into our University curriculum consequently imparting values on our students.

Other Outreach Activities

The Centre also conducts workshops, seminars and public lectures at the Lang’ata Campus and in other centres, schools, dioceses or institutions on request.

Research

In fulfilling its mission, the Centre is committed to promoting research through teaching, library research and fieldwork.

Completed Research Studies

Baseline Survey on the Status of the Social Teaching of the Church in East Africa
Assessment of Property Rights and Capacity Building Needs of Soweto West-Kibera Slum Dwellers
The Organisation, Management and Evaluation of Housing Cooperatives in Kenya.

Proposed Research Study

Ethical Response in Social, Political and Economic Life in East Africa

Publications

Christian Perspectives on Property and Socio-Economic Development in Africa
A Reflection on Africa and Globalisation for the Common Good
The Organisation and Management of Housing Cooperatives in Kenya

** The texts are available for sale at the Centre’s office and the Publications Department.

Resource Centre

The Centre has a documentation centre stocked with literature on social issues, the Church Social Doctrine, justice, ethics, peace issues, among others. Lending services are extended to CUEA students and staff.
The Centre’s resource Centre will also stock a collection of literature from the local churches on the Church Social Doctrine.

CSJE Online Journal

Click here to access the journal.

Uniqueness Of The Program

The Journal of Social Encounters (JSE) is an interdisciplinary online journal with limited copies in print that publishes scholarly, peer-reviewed essays on peace, conflict, and social justice issues in any part of the world. In keeping with this aim, the current online issue is published by CSJE at CUEA in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the Department of Peace Studies at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University (CSB/SJU) in Collegeville, Minnesota. While the JSE will publish essays by authors from any country in each issue, some essays by African authors always will be included in each issue so that African scholarship on peace, conflict, and social justice will become better known. The Journal of Social Encounters (JSE) is a diverse online publication that also offers limited printed copies. It features scholarly essays that have been peer-reviewed, covering topics such as peace, conflict, and social justice from around the world. The current online edition is presented by CSJE at CUEA in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with the Department of Peace Studies at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University (CSB/SJU) in Collegeville, Minnesota. While the JSE showcases essays from authors of any nationality, there is a consistent inclusion of works by African writers in each edition, highlighting African perspectives on peace, conflict, and social justice.