Introduction

The Centre was formally established by the University Council on 8th May 2003 in view of dissemination of the Social Teaching of the Church in the AMECEA region. This was the response to the felt need for the church in Africa especially in the AMECEA to be instrumental in the establishment of just social systems and structures by addressing issues of Justice and Peace.

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 programmes to the Youth, Justice and peace animators, human rights advocates, policymakers, educators, politicians, administrators, businessmen and women etc.

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 programmes of the Centre for Social Justice and Ethics. The Church’s Social Doctrine seen as including a perspective of social theology requires:

1. Deeper research on the status of the Church’s Social Doctrine.
2. The development of appropriate and effective formation programmes.
3. 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.

This is confirmed in Resolution No. IX-61 of the AMECEA 14th Plenary Assembly, 15th-21st July 2002.

The Social Teaching of the Church should be a compulsory subject to be taught in the AMECEA Institutions, in all the Major Seminaries and in all Religious houses of formation in the AMECEA region. Extension courses and workshops on the same Social Teaching should be made available to Christian Political Leaders, professionals, businessmen/women, members of the Army and Security Forces and juridical institutions.

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

1. Bachelor of Church Management and Leadership
2. 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: admissions@cuea.edu
Tel: + (254) (020) 891601-6
Fax: + (254) (020) 891084

Department of Ethics

Areas of Specialisation

1. African Environmental Ethics
2. African Bioethics
3. 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.