Former Attorney General and Court of Appeal President Paul Kihara Kariuki has died, with Chief Justice Martha Koome leading tributes to the veteran jurist.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Koome described Kariuki as an accomplished jurist and dedicated public servant whose contribution to Kenya’s legal institutions would remain part of the country’s history.
Kariuki served as Attorney General from April 2018 to October 2022, having been appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta following the resignation of Prof Githu Muigai.
Before joining the Executive, he served as President of the Court of Appeal from 2013 to 2018, becoming the first person elected to the position by fellow judges under the 2010 Constitution.
During his tenure, Kariuki championed reforms to improve the court’s efficiency and accessibility, including decentralising its operations to bring judicial services closer to Kenyans.
He was also instrumental in establishing the Judiciary Training Institute, serving as its founding director and laying the foundation for structured professional development within the Judiciary.
Kariuki was appointed a High Court judge in 2003 and later served as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
As Attorney General, he oversaw major legal battles during the Kenyatta administration, including cases surrounding the Building Bridges Initiative and disputes between the Executive and Judiciary over the appointment of judges.
At the end of his tenure, Kariuki said his office had concluded 4,541 cases against the national government, issued 3,119 legal opinions and approved 252 procurement contracts.
Koome said Kariuki’s legacy extended beyond the offices he held, highlighting the institutions he helped build, reforms he championed and legal professionals he mentored.
“Justice Kihara Kariuki was an accomplished jurist, an exemplary judicial leader and a dedicated public servant whose contributions to the administration of justice and the development of Kenya’s legal institutions will remain an enduring part of our institutional history,” she said.
The Chief Justice extended condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues and all those who worked with him during his distinguished career in public service.
