Dr. Suleiman Chembea

Head of Department

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, GOVERNANCE & COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Message from The Head of Department
The Department of Arts, Governance & Communication Studies (AG&CS) in the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) at Bomet University is a vibrant academic hub dedicated to fostering critical thinking, creativity, and social transformation through Humanities and Social Sciences. The Department is central to the University’s mission of providing quality Teaching, Research and Community outreach. email us at dagcs@buc.ac.ke

Programs Offered in The Department

All our programmes are duly accredited and approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Courses offered in AG&CS consist of Fifteen (15) undergraduate, Nine (9) Masters and Fourteen (14) PhD programmes. There are also three (3) Diploma programmes as listed below:

PhD Programmes

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Forced Migration
  • Doctor of Philosophy in History
  • Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Kiswahili Studies
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Literature
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Religion
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre Film

Master Programmes

  • Master of Arts in Anthropology
  • Master of Arts in History
  • Master of Arts in Kiswahili Studies
  • Master of Arts in Linguistics
  • Master of Arts in Literature
  • Master of Arts in Philosophy
  • Master of Arts in Political Science
  • Master of Arts in Religion
  • Master of Science in Communication Studies

Undergraduate Programmes

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts in Community Development
  • Bachelor of Arts French
  • Bachelor of Arts German
  • Bachelor of Arts History
  • Bachelor of Arts Kiswahili
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
  • Bachelor of Arts Linguistics
  • Bachelor of Arts Literature
  • Bachelor of Arts Music
  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
  • Bachelor of Arts Political Science and Public Administration
  • Bachelor of Arts Religion
  • Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
  • Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations

Diploma Programmes

  • Diploma in Public Administration
  • Diploma in Public Relations
  • ostgraduate Diploma in International Relations

FACULTY PROFILES

Dr. Mohammed Mraja

Dr. Mohamed Mraja is the Dean, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Bomet University College (BUC). He is a DAAD alumnus who obtained his PhD in Islamic studies from the Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany. His is a Postdoc Fellow of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and an established Researcher with the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth, Germany. Dr. Mraja is also a Panelist in the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in the area of Religious Education. His research interests include Religion and Marriage, Family law, Education, Environment, Health, Radicalization and Muslim Religious Authorities. He is a senior lecturer in Islamic Studies with extensive authorship in referred articles.

Dr. Suleiman Chembea

Dr. Chembea holds a PhD in Islamic studies from the University of Bayreuth, Germany; a Master of Arts in Religion and a Bachelor of Education (Arts), both from Moi University, Kenya. His research interests lay in the interface between Muslim Religious Endowments (Awqaf) and Muslim Social welfare politics in secular state milieus; on Muslim-Christian relations; on Religion and migration and Religious extremism. Dr. Chembea held the position of Visiting Research Fellow at the African Studies Center, (ASC), Leiden, University of Netherlands in 2019 as well as the Early Career Researcher of Islam in Africa, a mentorship program of the Institute of Islamic Thought in Africa (ISITA), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois since 2019. He is a DAAD alumnus and currently a Postdoc Fellow of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, University of Bayreuth, Germany.

Dr. Florence Muteheli Anyonje

Dr. Florence Muteheli Anyonje is a Lecturer of Kiswahili Methods in the School of Arts and Social Science. She holds a PhD in Education Communication and Technology from Moi University, a Master Degree in Curriculum Instruction and Educational Media (Kiswahili Methods) from Moi University and a Bachelor of Education Degree (Kiswahili/CRE) from Kenyatta University. Dr Anyonje has worked with TSC from 1990 to 2021 and served in schools like Kivaywa Boys, Shikunga Secondary, Chwele Girls’, Bungoma Muslim and most recently Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College, where she is the pioneer Teaching Practice Coordinator. Dr Anyonje has several publications in peer reviewed journals mostly publishing in Teaching Methods and Oral Literature. She is also a member of Kenya Association of Education Managers, Chama cha Kiswahili cha Afrika Mashariki (CHAKAMA), Kenya Oral Literature Association (KOLA) and a life member of Kenya Red Cross. Dr Anyonje is currently the BOM Chairperson of St Stephen Namulungu Sec School and is in charge of Scouting in Matungu Sub County and also sits on the Board of Management of Mara Siongiroi Shiners School. Dr Anyonje has a passion in teacher training.

Dr. Wanyonyi Mulalu

Dr Wanyonyi Mulalu is a Linguist with research interest in morphosyntax of Bantu languages. Currently he is a Lecturer of Kiswahili in the Department of Arts, Governance and Communication Studies, Bomet University College. He has also worked with the Teachers service commission from 1995 to 2020 as a high school teacher of Kiswahili at St Mathias Busia Secondary school and Moi Girls’ Kamusinga, and later as a Curriculum Support Officer in Nandi County, Nandi North sub-county. Dr Mulalu holds a PhD and an MA in Kiswahili studies and a B.Ed from Moi University ( Eldoret ). He has worked with KNEC as an examiner for Kiswahili pp2. He has researched and published various papers in language structure in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Mulalu is a member of Chama cha Kiswahili cha Kitaifa and a founding member of the Language Association of East Africa. He is a member of the Board of Management, Moi Girls’ Kamusinga high school, Bungoma County.

Dr. Anthony Waiganjo

Dr. Anthony Gathambîri Waiganjo is a lecturer at Bomet University College (A constituent college of Moi University) in the School of Arts and Social Sciences. He is a scholar in Gender studies. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome (2007); Master of Arts (Gender Studies), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2015); and a PhD in Gender Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2018). His key research interests are Gender Studies, Gender and Development, Transnationalism, Intersectionality, Refugees studies, and feminism. He is the author of “The President”, a book weaved along gender trajectories. His main teaching interests are Gender, Feminism, globalization and Development. Previously, he has taught at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2015 to 2018), Karatina University (2018), and Egerton University (2018 to 2021).

Dr. Leonard Koech

Dr. Leonard Koech holds a Master of Arts in Communication (Development Communication) from Daystar University, Kenya and a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Journalism from Moi University. He is currently undertaking Doctoral studies in Communication Studies at Rongo University. He is a Member of the International Communication Association (ICA) and the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK). His research interests include Communication for Development and Social Change, Digital Media and Rural Development as well as Social Media Interactions. He is serving as a Tutorial Fellow in the Department of Arts, Governance and Communication Studies, undertaking research and teaching in Communication studies. Mr. Koech is also an Academic mentor both in the University as well as the community and an enthusiast of Drama and Creative Arts through edutainment.

Dr. Simion Korir

Dr. Simion Korir holds a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Urbaniana University, Italy; a Master of Arts in International Law and Human Rights from Coventry University, United Kingdom; a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Moi University, Kenya; Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy both from Urbaniana University, Italy. He is presently pursuing a PhD Degree in Religious Studies at Moi University. Mr. Korir is a Tutorial Fellow in the Department of Arts, Governance and Communication Studies. His research interests include Peacebuilding in Religious Perspective; Gender Equality and Dignity from the Christian viewpoint; Youth involvement in Religious, Social, Economic, Environmental and Technological Development as well as Emerging concerns in relation to Christian perspective.

Rev. Sgt. Rtd. Dr. Elijah Onyango Standslause Odhiambo

Rev. Sgt. Rtd. Dr. Elijah Onyango Standslause Odhiambo is a multidisciplinary academic and practitioner integrating virtue, theory, and practice in his teaching. A retired Kenya Defence Forces officer (22 years of service), he is also an Anglican priest, lecturer, motivational speaker, and researcher in national and international security, diplomacy, governance, conflict transformation, and sustainable peace.He holds a Ph.D. in Diplomacy & International Relations, an MSc. in Conflict Resolution and Management (Masinde Muliro University), a Postgraduate Certificate in Disarmament for Development (UOC, Spain), and a Bachelor of Divinity from St. Paul’s University.Currently a lecturer in the Department of Arts, Governance and Communication Studies at Bomet University College, he has over a decade of academic experience, more than 85 peer-reviewed publications, and has supervised 5 Ph.D. and 17 Master's students. His scholarly impact includes 263 citations, an h-index of 10, and an i10-index of 10 (Google Scholar, July 2024).Dr. Odhiambo has trained numerous actors in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, participated in national and international conferences, and contributed to policy papers and consultancies. He teaches across all levels—from certificate to Ph.D.—and has been honored by the Kenyan government with three medals. He remains active in professional associations and community outreach, contributing to Bomet University College’s vision as a Green University for Sustainability.