FACULTY OF LAW

GPR 300: JURISPRUDENCE

LL.B. III, FIRST SEMESTER, ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

INSTRUCTORS

Instructor Campus Time Appointment

Bosire Nyamori Regular Wednesday: 8:00 – Strictly by email
11:00 am Bosire.nyamori@uonbi.ac.ke
Moza Jadeed/ Peter Evening Wednesday 5:30 – Please book your
Pete 8:30 pm appointment on email:
moza@uonbi.ac.ke

Andrew Mumma Day 11:00 am – 2:00

pm

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COURSE DESCRIPTION 3
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE: 3
MODES OF DELIVERY 3
COURSE REQUIREMENTS 3
COURSE POLICIES AND RULES 4
READINGS 4
CORE TEXTBOOKS 4
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS 5
THE COURSE CONTENT 5
PART I: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 5
Week 1: Introduction 6
PART II: SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF LEGAL THEORIES 7
Week 2: Natural Law 7
Week 3: Positivism 8
Week 4: Sociological Jurisprudence 9
Week 5: Historical & Anthropological Jurisprudence 10
Week 6: Legal Realism 11
Week 7: Critical Legal Studies 12
Week 8: African jurisprudence: Decolonising Jurisprudence 13
PART III: CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES 14
Week 9: Justice 14
Week 10: Legal Concepts, Rights and Duties 15
Weeks 11 and 12: Class Presentations of Coursework 16
Weeks 14 and 15: Exams 16

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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a build up to the philosophical introduction to law, the Social Foundations of Law,
lectured in First Year. But it goes beyond the traditional approach to legal philosophy in terms of
defining law into contemporary discussions on legal thought. The course, therefore, introduces
learners to a systematic and critical mode of thinking about law and legal problems. It discusses
the essential unity of theory and practice in law and the importance of appreciating the socio-
political-economic and historical forces that give specificity to legal phenomenon. The course
thus interrogates the philosophical basis (principles, ideas and issues) that shape the law in
Kenya and a few other foreign jurisdictions. It also analyses critically contemporary legal
problems in light of the leading schools of thought on law. Learners are encouraged to bring their
existing knowledge of other facets of law on board. While the knowledge from other social
sciences such as sociology, economics, religion and political science is helpful, the course does
not assume that learners have prior knowledge in these disciplines.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE:

By the end of the course, the learners should be able to:
1. Raise relevant questions of and about the law.
2. Explain the nature of law and legal systems.
3. Explain the various theories proposed and about the law.
4. Explain the concept of rights and duties.
5. Reckon the continuing debate about the relationship between law, justice and morality.
6. Identify and grapple with contemporary jurisprudential problems.

MODES OF DELIVERY
Interactive lectures; Guest lecturers; Online modules; Relevant online videos; Individual student
and Group presentation; Problem-based learning.

The course will be offered through a mixture of physical and online lectures. Learners are
already informed of their mode of learning. And they would be informed in an advance of any
possible changes. Because this is an interactive course, learners are required to participate
actively in it. As Albert Einstein states ‘I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the
conditions in which they can learn’. Learners are, therefore, expected to prepare for each lecture
in advance by reading the provided references.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class Attendance and Participation
● This is a 45-hours course.

● The semester is divided into two parts. Part I commences on 10 October 2023 and ends on 15
December 2023. Part II commences on 15 January 2024 and ends on 16 February 2024.
● Learners shall learn for 13 weeks beginning 10 October 2023. End of semester exams shall
run in the last two weeks between 5 February 2024 and 16 February 2024.

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● As per the University regulations, learners must attend at least two thirds of the lectures
appearing on the timetable to qualify to sit for an exam at the end of the semester.
● Both the coursework and the final exam shall be run on mtihani portal. Learners must ensure
that they are registered for this course in good time. Unregistered learners shall not sit for the
coursework assessment. No make-up coursework assessment would be offered (during and
outside the semester) save for very good reasons. And non-registration is not one of those
reasons.

Grading
Continuous Assessment Tests 30%
Examination 70%
Total 100%

Note that the completion of all the coursework assessments is a mandatory component of the
course. A learner cannot sit for the end of semester exam without completing his/her
coursework.

Unless communicated differently by the course instructors, learners are expected to submit a
group research essay on the mtihani platform on or before 16 January 2024 at 4:00 p.m. The
essay is designed to give learners the opportunity to develop a jurisprudential analysis of a
topical issue. The essay should be between 2500 and 3000 words, Times New Roman, Font 12,
well-paragraphed and justified. Please observe the word limit. This essay would form part of the
coursework assessment. It carries 20 marks. The remaining 10 marks would be assessed against
an individual learner during class presentations of the essay towards the end of the semester. The
course instructors shall assign a problem (the topical issue) to every group on Week 7. Learners
can congregate themselves into groups of five (5). Please balance academic strength and gender.

COURSE POLICIES AND RULES

● While a free and interactive learning environment is provided, disruptive behavior such as
conversations during lessons will not be tolerated. Learners not contributing to an ongoing
discussion must mute themselves.
● Communication with the instructor should be done on email. Take note of the consultation
hours. The consultations will be organized on the basis of learners who have notified the
instructor beforehand.

READINGS
By the very nature of the course, it is impossible to recommend a single textbook. Learners are,
therefore, expected to consult as many texts listed below as possible. However, learners must
endeavor to read one of the core texts and readings marked in asterisk. The university has a rich
online library. Learners are recommended to access some of the listed readings in this online
library through HeinOnline, JSTOR and the university repository. Other available online
resources include the Social Science Research Network, Google scholar and other databases
available at the university online library. The online videos form a supplementary part of this

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course. Learners are encouraged to watch the videos and engage with them prior to attending the
scheduled lectures. Learners are further reminded to read the actual judgments and rulings of the
enlisted cases, not their briefs or summaries.

CORE TEXTBOOKS
1. Raymond Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory,
4thedn. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017) (Hereinafter Wacks)
2. Brian Bix, Jurisprudence: Theory & Context (Durban/North Carolina: Carolina
Academic Press, 2019) (Hereinafter Bix)
3. Freeman, M.D.A., Lloyd’s Introduction to Jurisprudence, 9thedn (Sweet & Maxwell,
2014), (hereinafter Lloyds).
4. Hart, H.L.A., The Concept of Law, 2nd ed. (London: Oxford University Press, 1994),
(hereinafter Hart)
5. P, Omony, Key Issues in Jurisprudence (Law Africa, 2011)

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS
The following texts supplement the core textbooks:
1. Sean Coyle, Modern Jurisprudence: A Philosophical Guide, 2ndedn. (Oxford: Hart
Publishing Lt, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2017)

2. Mark Tebbit, Philosophy of Law: An Introduction, 3rdedn. (London; Routledge, 2017)

3. Nigel E. Simmonds, Central Issues in Jurisprudence, 5thedn, revised (London, Sweet &
Maxwell, 2018) (hereinafter Simmonds).

4. M Davies,Asking the Law Question (3rd ed. Lawbook Co, Pyrmont, NSW, 2008)

5. Bulygin E., Bernal C., Huerta C., Mazzarese T., et al., Essays in Legal Philosophy, 1stedn.
(London; Oxford University Press, 2015)

6. Cotterell, Roger, The Politics of Jurisprudence, 2ndedn. (London: Butterworths, 2009).

7. Devlin, P., The Enforcement of Morals (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1965)

8. Pattaro E. &Roversi C., A Treatise of Legal Philosophy and General Jurisprudence:

Volume 12 Legal Philosophy in the Twentieth Century: The Civil Law World, Tome 1:
Language Areas, Tome 2, illustrated (London; Springer Science & Business Media, 2016)

9. Dworkin, R., Law’s Empire (Harvard University Press, 1986)

10. Hart, H.L.A., Essays in Jurisprudence and Philosophy (Clarendon Press, 2012)
11. Wayne Morrison, Jurisprudence: From the Greeks to Post-modernism (London and
Sydney: Cavendish Publishing Limited, 2005)

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 12. David Kairys. The Politics of Law: A Progressive Critique. Revised (New York: Pantheon
Books, 1982).

THE COURSE CONTENT

PART I: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Week 1: Introduction
1. Understanding Jurisprudence
● What is jurisprudence? How is it different from legal theory and philosophy of law (if
at all)?
● The different meanings of the word ‘jurisprudence’

● Analytical (“is”) versus normative jurisprudence (“ought to”)

● General jurisprudence versus particular jurisprudence

● Why study jurisprudence?

2. The Law and the Influence of Jurisprudence on the Law

● What is law?

● The functions of law in society

3. What is Knowledge?
● How do you know that you know?

Core Readings:
● Article 259(1) of the Constitution of Kenya

● Harris, Legal Philosophies, Ch. 1, “What is Jurisprudence About”, pp. 1-5.

● Wacks, chapter 1.

● Bix, chapter 1& 2.

● Hart, chapter 1

● C. F. Black, The Land is the Source of the Law: A Dialogic Encounter with Indigenous
Jurisprudence, 1stedn. (London; Routledge-Cavendish, 2010).

Journal Articles
● H.L.A. Hart, Law in the Perspective of Philosophy (1976-1978) NYU.L Rev. 538

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 ● Lon L. Fuller, The Case of the Speluncean Sailors, 62 Harv. L. Rev. 616 1948-1949

● Bor Fredric L, Nexus between Philosophy and Law, (1974) Journal of Legal education,
pp.539543
● H.L.A Hart, Definition and Theory in Jurisprudence 70 [1954] L.Q.R. 37

● Leiter B., The Demarcation Problem in Jurisprudence: A New Case for Scepticism (2011)
Oxford Journal of Legal Studies Vol. 31, Issue 4, page 663-677.
● Teubner G., How the Law Thinks: Toward a Constructivist Epistemology of Law (1989)
Law & Society Review Vol. 23, No. 5 pp. 727-758.

Cases
● Methodist Church v Mohamed Fugicha[2019] eKLR [59] and [91].

● Eliud Waweru Wambui v Republic [2019] eKLR.

● Martin Charo v Republic [2016] eKLR.

● Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, Malindi & 4 others v Attorney General & 5
others [2015] eKLR.
● Timothy Njoya& 17 Others vs. Attorney General & 4 Others [2013] eKLR (The Njoya
Case), available at http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/86658
● The Queen v Dudley and Stephens(1884) 14 QBD 273-

● Consider the material from Harvard university website available at

http://justiceharvard.org/lecture-2-the-case-for-cannibalism/#1477504398584-5d76ef29-
aab0discussing the case as part of “Lecture 2: The Case for Cannibalism”
● Oppenheimer vs. Cattermole [1976] AC 249, the full appeal case is available at
http://uniset.ca/naty/maternity/oppenheimer.html
● Madzimbamuto vs. Lardner-Burke [1968] UKPC 18, the full appeal case is available at
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/1968/1968_18.html
● McLoughlin vs. O'Brian [1983] 1 AC 410, online copy is available at http://www.pierre-
legrand.com/mcloughlin-v-obrian.pdf

Videos
● Introduction to Epistemology #1: The Nature of Knowledge, Video available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Fn_dpiCCM

PART II: SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF LEGAL THEORIES

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Week 2: Natural Law
- The idea/notion of natural law
- Classical natural law-Ancient Greece (Aristotle, Plato and Socrates), Stoics (Cicero),
Christianity (StThomas Aquinas)
- Modern natural law-
- Natural law in political philosophy- Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau
- Evolution of natural law-Classical natural law, Modern natural law, Natural law in
political philosophy, decline of natural law and revival of natural law
- Social contract theory
- Law and the enforcement of morals;
- A critique of natural law theory;
- Natural law and Kenyan legal system;
- Hart and Fuller debate on morality of law;
- Finnis and Restatement of natural law- natural law, natural rights

Core Readings
● Dworkin, Ronald, Taking Rights Seriously (London, Duckworth, 1978), Chapter. 4-13

● Fuller, L. Lon, The Morality of Law (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1969)

● Harris, Legal Philosophies, Chapter 1, “Natural Law and Moral truth”, pp. 6-27.

● Hart, Law, Liberty and Morality (California: Stanford University Press, 1963), chapter 1

● Hart, Chapter8-10

● Lloyd, Chapter 3

Journal Articles
● Roscoe Pound, Natural law and positive natural law [1952] 68 L.Q.R 330

● Beyleveld&Brownsword, Law as Moral Judgment versus Law as the Rules of the

Powerful[1983] 28 American Journal of Jurisprudence, pp.79-117
● HartH.L.A., Positivism and separation of law and morals [1958] 71 Harv. L. Rev., 65-93

● Fuller, L. Lon, Positivism and fidelity to law 71 [1958] 71 Harv. L. Rev., pp. 630-672

● John Finnis & Grisez, The Basic principles of Natural law- a reply to Moinernew [1981]
25, issue 1, Am. J. Jur, 21
● Hart H.L.A, On legal and moral obligations (1974)-Mich. L, Rev. 443-458

● Lord Devlin, Mill on liberty in morals (1965) U. Chi. L. Rev. 215

● Dworkin, Ronald, Lord Devlin and the enforcement of morals, 1966, Yale L.J, 985

Cases and Legal Provisions

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 ● Articles 1 and 19(3) of the Constitution of Kenya (CoK).

● D.P.P v Shaw [1962] 2, AC 220;

● R v Kneller [1971] 3 W.L.R. 633;

● Eric Gitari v Non- Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Board & 4 others

[2015]eKLR (HC).
● Non- Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Board v EG & 5 others [2019] eKLR
(CA).
● EG & 7 others v Attorney General; DKM & 9 others (Interested Parties); Katiba Institute
& another (Amicus Curiae) [2019] eKLR.

Week 3: Positivism
-Understanding the origin and development of legal positivism

Classical Positivism
-The command theory of law
-Jeremy Bentham
-John Austin

Analytical/Modern legal positivism

-HLA Hart
-Hans Kelsen
-The Pure Theory of Law
-The Hart/Fuller Debate
Dworkin and the moral integrity of law
Congruence of Positive Law and Natural Law

Core Readings
● Austin John, The province of jurisprudence determined (London:Weidenfield& Nicolson,
1954)
● Bix, Chapter 3 & 4

● Harris, Legal Philosophies, Chapter 3, 6, 9& 12

● Wacks, pp. 1077

● Kelsen Hans, The Pure Theory of Law (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of
California Press, 1967
● Lloyd, chapters 4-6

Journal Articles

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 ● Kelsen Hans, “Pure theory of Law” (1934) L.Q.R (1935) 517

● Kelsen Hans, What is pure theory of law? (1959/60) 34 Tulane Law Rev

● HART, H.L.A, Analytical Jurisprudence in mid-20th century – areply to Bodenheimer

[1957] 105 U. of Penn. Law Rev. 953
● Cohen Julius, Political element in legal theory- (a look at Kelsen’s pure theory), The Yale
Law Journal 88(1) (1978): 1–38
● Cohen, Julius (1986) "Myth of Neutrality in Positive Legal Theory: Hart Revisited,"
American Journal of Jurisprudence: Vol. 31: Issue 1, 97
● Posner Richard, Blackstone and Bentham J.L & Econ [1976] 569-606

● Hart, Austin and the concept of a legal system (the primacy of sanctions) (1975) Yale. L.J
584-607
● De-Smith, Constitutional Lawyers in Revolutionary Situations [1968] Western out. L.R, 93

Cases
● Madzimbamuto v Lardner Burke [1968] 2 S.A. 284;

● The State v Dosso (1958) Pak L.D, (sc) 533;

● Jiliani v Government of Punjab [1972] Pak. L.D (sc) 139;

● Hassan v State (1969) Lah. 786;

● Uganda v Commissioner of Prisons, exparteMatovu [1966] E.A 514

● Sylvanus Manuel Walutsachi v St. Mary’s Mission Hospital Civil Appeal No E050 of 2021
(CA) Kisumu 6 – 7, Kiage J.
● Hakam Bibi v Mistry FatehMahommed [1955] KLR 91, 114.

● Echaria v Echaria[2007] eKLR, 12 – 13.

Week 4: Sociological Jurisprudence

- Sociological jurisprudence, sociology of law and legal sociology

- Law as a social phenomenon
- Law and social interests
- Law and social engineering
- The limits of law

Core Readings:

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 ● Harris, Chapter 18

● Cotterell R., The Sociology of Law, 2ndedn.

● Hunt A., Sociological Movement in Law (1978), chapter 6.

Journal Articles

● Roscoe Pound, The Scope and Purpose of Sociological Jurisprudence (1911) 24

Harv. L.Rev. 5911
● *Roscoe Pound, Sociology of Law and Sociological Jurisprudence 5 [1943/44]
University of Toronto Journal
● Clarke, Durkheim’s Sociology of Law [1978] Brit J.L & Soc. 246-255

● *Beine, Marxism and the Sociology of Law: Theory or Practice. 2[1975]2, Brit J.L &
Soc, 78
● Cain, The Main Themes of Marx and Engels Sociology of Law [1974] Br. J.L &Soc
136.

Week 5: Historical & Anthropological Jurisprudence

- Why legal systems differ
- Law and the spirit of the people
- Law and “tribal” societies
- Customary law
- Legal pluralism

Core Readings:
● Donovan James, Legal Anthropology: An Introduction (Lanham, Md: Altamira Press,
2008) Gluckman Max, The Judicial Process among the Barotse of Northern Rhodesia
(Manchester: University of Manchester Press, 1955)
● Maine, Sir Henry, Ancient law (New York: Dutton, 1960)

● Harris, chapter 17

● Lloyds, chapter. 12

● Kerkering C. & Mbazira C., Friend of the Court & The 2010 Constitution: The Kenyan
Experience and Comparative State Practice On Amicus Curiae, (Nairobi; Judicial
Training Institute, 2017)

Journal Articles

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● Walton, The Historical School of Jurisprudence and Transplantation of Law (1927) 9
J.C.L. (Series III) at p. 183
● Kantorowicz, “Savigny and the Historical School of Law” (1937) 53 L.Q.R. 326.

● Sibanda, Sanele. "When Is the Past Not the Past? Reflections on Customary Law under
South Africa’s Constitutional Dispensation." Human Rights Brief 17, no.3 (2010): 31-35.
● Allott, A.N. "Customary Law: Its Place and Meaning in Contemporary African Legal
Systems." (1965)2 Journal of African Law 9;
● Cotran, Integration of courts and application of customary law in Kenya. 4 E.A.L.J 14

● Kamau-Kuria, Customary marriage between Europeans and Africans in Kenya [1971]

E.A.L.R
● Ambani J. O. & Ahaya O., The Wretched African Traditionalists in Kenya: The
Challenges and Prospects of Customary Law in the New Constitutional Era, (2015)
Strathmore Law Journal page 41-59. Available at
http://www.press.strathmore.edu/uploads/journals/strathmore-law-journal/SLJ1/1-SLJ-1-
JOAmbani-OAhaya-Wretched-African-Traditionalists.pdf
● Bwire B., Integration of African Customary Legal Concepts into Modern Law:
Restorative Justice: A Kenyan Example, (2019), Societies, Vol. 9, No. 17, page 1-8.
● Joireman S. F., The Evolution of the Common Law: Legal Development in Kenya and
India, (2006) Vol. 41 Issue 2, page 1-26. Available at University of Richmond UR
Scholarship Repository
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1926/e928c148402c252828ebea1f844c15174a82.pdf
● Juma L., From 'Repugnancy' to 'Bill of Rights': African Customary Law in Lesotho and
South Africa, (2007) Speculum Juris, Vol. 1 available at
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256018398_From_'Repugnancy'_to_'Bill_of_Ri
ghts'_African_Customary_Law_in_Lesotho_and_South_Africa
● Kamau W., Customary Law and Women’s Rights in Kenya, available at
http://theequalityeffect.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CustomaryLawAndWomensRig
htsInKenya.pdf
● Lacey N., Jurisprudence, History, and the Institutional Quality of Law, (2015), Va. L.
Rev. 919, Vol. 101, page 919-938.
● Ndulo M., African Customary Law, Customs, and Women's Rights, (2011) Indiana
Journal of Global Legal Studies Vol. 18 Issue 1, page 87-120. Available at
https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1437&context=ijgls
● Owino L., Application of African Customary Law: Tracing its Degradation and
Analysing the Challenges it Confronts, (2016) Strathmore Law Review, page 143-165

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Cases
● The BBI (HC, CA, SC)

Week 6: Legal Realism

- The revolt against formalization
- Studying judicial behavior
- The “fact” and “rule” skeptism
- Scientific and normative laws
- The American and Scandinavian realists
- Post realism
- Reductionism and judicial behaviorism

Core Readings:
● Lloyds, chapter 10 and 11

● Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Path of the Law (1897) 10 Harv. L. Rev. 457-478

● Benjamin N Cardozo, The nature of the judicial process, (New Haven: Yale University
Press, 1928)
● Lon L. Fuller, Law in quest itself (Chicago: Foundation Press, 1940)

● *William Twinning, Karl Llwellyn and the Realist Movement, 2ndedn (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2014)

Journal Articles

● Aguda, The role of the Judge with Specific Reference to Civil Liberties 10 [1974] E.A.L.J
147 Friedman, Judges, Politics and Law 29 Can. Bar. Rev (Quoted in Harvey.
Introduction to legal system in E. Africa p.839)
● G.K. Kuria& J.B. Ojwang, Judges Within the Framework of Politics in Kenya [1970]
Public Law
● HLA Hart, Scandinavian Realism [1959] C.L.J 233

● *Karl Llewellyn, Some Realism about Realism (1931) 44 Harv. L. Rev 1222

● Karl Llewellyn, The Normative, the Legal and the Law Jobs, 49 Yale L.J 1355

● Karl Llewellyn, A Realistic Jurisprudence. The Next Step? (1930) 30 Colum. L. Rev. 431

● Charles Newbold, The Role of Judge as a Policymaker [1969] E.A.L.J, 1

● Oki OokoOmbaka, Post-realist Legal Scholarship [1980] Wise. L.K 1383-1401

● Roscoe Pound, The Call for a Realistic Jurisprudence 44 H.L.R 697

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 ● *William Twinning, Two Works of Karl Llewellyn [1967] 30 M.L.R 514

Cases:
● Non- Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Board v EG & 5 others [2019] eKLR
(CA).
● EG & 7 others v Attorney General; DKM & 9 others (Interested Parties); Katiba
Institute & another (Amicus Curiae) [2019] eKLR.

Week 7: Critical Legal Studies

- Critical Race Theory
- Feminist Legal Theory
o Liberal; radical; cultural; critical race; and Muslim
- Postmodernism
- LGBTQ theory
- Marxist Theory of Law
o The “withering away” of law
o The Economic determination of the law

Core Readings
● Bix, op. cit., chap 19.

● Freeman, op cit, chap 16.

● Roederer & Moellendorf, Jurisprudence, chap 11, chap 12.

● Levit & Verchick, Feminist Legal Theory, (2006) chaps 2 and 3

● Catherine MacKinnon, Toward a Feminist Theory of State, Cambridge, MA: Harvard

University Press (1989)
● Smart, Carol, Feminism and the Power of Law, London: Routledge, 1989, pp. 4-25, 66-89

● Friedrich Engels, The origin of the family, private property and the state, Reissue edition
(Penguin Lectureics, 2010)
● Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, The Communist manifesto (Penguin Lectureics, 2015)

● V.I. Lenin, State and revolution, (International Publishing, 1932)

● *Evgeny B. Pashukanis, Law and Marxism: A General Theory, New Ed edition (Pluto
Press; 1978)
● *A. Hunt and M. Cain, Marx and Engels on Law (London: MacMillan Press, 1979)

Journal Articles

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 ● Angela Harris, ‘Race and Essentialism in Feminist Legal Theory’, (1990) 42 Stanford Law
Review 581.
● Brenda Cossman, ‘Gender, Sexuality, and Power: Is Feminist Theory Enough?’ 12
Columbia Journal of Gender and Law 601 (2003).
● Baraza, N., legal feminism and traditional legal doctrine: contesting the dominant
paradigm ( in oncoming 2015 EALJ)
● Baraza,N., Lost Between Rhetoric and Reality: What Role for the Law and Human Rights
in Redressing Gender Inequality?, Kenya Law Review Journal, Vol. II: [2008-2010]
Available at http://www.kenyalaw.org/klr/index.php?id=874
● Robin West, Jurisprudence and Gender, (1988). 55 U. CHI. L. REV.1, 4

● Judith Butler, in “Gender Trouble”: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. (New York:
Routledge, 1990)
● Anne Stewart, The Dilemmas of Law in Women’s Development, in Adelman and Paliwala,
eds , Law and Crisis in the Third World (London: Hans Zell Publishers, 19993), pp. 219-
242
● Anne Hellum, Legal Regulation of the New Reproductive Technologies: Continuity and
Interconnectedness versus Freedom and Justice, In BIRTH LAW 109 (Anne Hellum, ed.,
1993)
● *Beine, Marxism and the Sociology of Law: Theory or Practice. 2[1975]2, Brit J.L & Soc,
78
● Cain, The Main Themes of Marx and Engels Sociology of Law [1974] Br. J.L &Soc 136

● Kinsey, Marxism and the Law: Preliminary Analyses [1978] 5BR J.L & Soc 202

● *Tsatsu, The Marxist Theory of Law and its Critique of Idealist Legal Theory [1978-81]
Univ. of Ghana Law. J. 113
● *Yash Pal Ghai, Towards a Theory of Law and Ideology, [1975]2 EA.L.J 143

Week 8: African jurisprudence: Decolonising Jurisprudence

Core Readings:
● Sylivia Tamale, Decolonisation and Afro-Feminism (Daraja Press 2020).

● Roederer & Moellendorf, Chapter 17, “’Traditional’ African Jurisprudence”

● Roederer & Moellendorf, Chapter 22, “Law in the Context of Globalisation”

Journal Articles

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 ● Idowu, W and Oke M, ‘Multiculturalism, Legal Pluralism and the Separability Thesis: A
Global Postmodern Critique of ‘An African Case for Legal Positivism’ (2008) Law,
Social Justice and Global Development Journal.
● Olegumi Taiwo, ‘Legal Positivism and the African Legal Tradition: A Reply’ (University
of Toronto) 197.
● Nkiruka Ahianzu, ‘Ubuntu and the Obligation to Obey the Law’ (2006) 37 Cambrian L
Rev 17.
● *William Idowu, ‘ Law, Morality and the African Cultural Heritage: The Jurisprudential
Significance of the Ogboni Institution’ (2005) Nordic Journal of African Studies 14 (2)
175.
● * William Idowu, ‘African Jurisprudence and the Reconciliation Theory of Law’ (2006)
37 Cambrian L Rev 1.
● * Ifeanyi A Menkiti, ‘Persons and Community in African Traditional Thought’

Cases and Legal Provisions

● The Banjul Charter.

● Judges & Magistrates Vetting Board & 2 others v Centre for Human Rights &
Democracy & 11 others [2014] eKLR [218].

PART III: CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

Week 9: Justice
- What is Justice?
- Types of justice- distributive justice, procedural justice , retributive, commutative justice,
- Theories of justice- utilitarianism, libertarianism, economic analysis of law, liberalism,
socialism/communitarianism and feminism as justice
- The Relationship between Law and Justice
- What is Administration of Justice?

Core Readings:
● Bix, Jurisprudence: Theory and Context, Ch. 8, “Justice”;

● Freeman, Lloyd’s Introduction to Jurisprudence, Ch. 7, “Theories of Justice”;

● Harris, Legal Philosophies, Chapter 20, “Justice: Liberal, Communitarian and Feminist

● John Rawls, A Theory of Justice [1972]. Available at

https://www.csus.edu/indiv/c/chalmersk/econ184sp09/johnrawls.pdf
● Nozick, R, Anarchy, State and Utopia [1974]

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 ● Michael J Sandel ed, Justice: A Reader (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007)

Journal Articles
● Anderson E., What is the Point of Equality? (1999) Ethics 109/2, page 287-315.

● Anton-Hermann Chroust& David L. Osborn, Aristotle's Conception of Justice (1942)

Notre Dame L. Rev. Vol. 17, page 129-143.
● Brighouse H., Political Equality and the Funding of Political Speech (1995) Social Theory
and Practice 21/3, page 473-500.
● Gutmann A., The Challenge of Multiculturalism in Political Ethics” (1993) Philosophy &
Public Affairs 22/3 pages 171-182.
● Laing B. M., The Problem of Justice in Plato's Republic (1933) Philosophy, Vol. 8, No. 32,
page 412-421. Available at JSTOR
● Sunstein C. &Vermeule A., Is Capital Punishment Morally Required? (2005) Stanford
Law Review, page 703-750.
● Waldron J., Superseding Historic Injustice (1992) Ethics 103/1 page 4- 28.

Cases
● Excerpts from Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas pages 1043-1045 and1061-
1066.
● Kenya Private Schools Association & Others v Kenya National Examination Council &
Others HC Petition No. 15 of 2011.
● Brown v Board of Education (1954) 349 US 483.

● Eric Gitari v Non- Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Board & 4 others [2015]
eKLR.

Video:
Lawrence Lessig’s Ted Talk on Campaign Finance, available at
https://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_we_the_people_and_the_republic_we_must_reclaim
?language=en

Week 10: Legal Concepts, Rights and Duties

- Theoretical Approaches to Rights
- Exposition of Hohfeld's jural Relationships
o Rights
o Duties
o Power

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 o Authority
- Is there a duty to obey?
- The problem of conscientious objectors
- The problem of the rebels within the law
- The problem of disobedience within fidelity to law.

Core Readings:
● Bix, ch. 10 and 11

● Harris, chapter 7

● Wacks, ch. 10

Journal Articles:
● Emily Freeman and Ernestina Coast, ‘Conscientious Objection to Abortion_ Zambian
Healthcare Practitioners’ Beliefs and Practices’ (2019) 221 Social Science & Medicine 106
● Adela Montero and Raul Villarroel, ‘A Critical Review of Conscientious Objection and
Decriminalisation of Abortion in Chile’ [2018] Journal of Medical Ethics 1.
● Joseph Raz, Legal Rights (1984) 4 Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 1.

● Wesley Hohfeld, Some Fundamental Legal Conceptions as Applied in Judicial Reasoning

(1913) 23 Yale Law Journal 16.
● Wesley Hohfeld, Fundamental Legal Conceptions as Applied in Judicial Reasoning (1919)
26 Yale Law Journal 710.
● Leif Wenar, “Rights”, in Edward N. Zalta, ed., The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy;
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rights> (2005).
● Waldron, Jeremy (ed.), Theories of Rights (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984)

● Green Walt, The Natural Duty to Obey; the Law. 84 Mich. L.Rev. 41

● Green Walt, Promise, Benefit and Need: Ties that Bind us to the Law [1984] Georgia Law.
Rev. 727

Cases:
● Wadluva v City Council of Nairobi [1968] E.A 406

● Shah Vershi Devshi & Co. Ltd v Transport Licensing Board [1971] E.A 289

● United States v Seeger 380 US 163 (1965) (SC decision – objection to military
recruitment).

Coursework Essay is due this week.

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Weeks 11 and 12: Class Presentations of Coursework

Weeks 14 and 15: Exams

Enjoy!

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