Former Attorney General and President of the Court of Appeal Paul Kihara Kariuki has died aged 72, drawing tributes from President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chief Justice Martha Koome, who have hailed his distinguished career in public service and lasting contribution to Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions.
Justice Kihara Kariuki, who served as Attorney General between 2018 and 2022 under the Kenyatta administration, was remembered as an accomplished jurist, exemplary judicial leader and a key figure in the development of the country’s justice system.
President Ruto, in his condolence message, said the former Attorney General had made invaluable contributions to the strengthening of Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions.
“I have learnt with deep sadness of the passing of Hon Justice (retired) Paul Kariuki Kihara, former Attorney General of Kenya and former President of the Court of Appeal,” the President said.
Ruto described the late jurist as a dedicated public servant whose distinguished career helped shape the country’s legal landscape.
He particularly recognised Kihara Kariuki’s pioneering role as the founding director of the Judiciary Training Institute, where he helped establish a framework for the professional development of judicial officers.
“On my behalf and on behalf of the people of Kenya, I convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. We stand with them in mourning this great loss and honouring a life of distinguished service to our nation,” the President said.
Former President Kenyatta also mourned the former Attorney General, describing him as a renowned judge and dedicated public servant whose career left an indelible mark on Kenya’s judicial and public institutions.
Kenyatta conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family, friends and well wishers, praying for strength, peace and comfort as they come to terms with the loss.
The Judiciary, through Chief Justice Martha Koome, also paid tribute to the late Kihara Kariuki, highlighting his leadership in advancing judicial reforms and strengthening the institutional foundations of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Kihara Kariuki was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 2003 before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
He subsequently became the first President of the Court of Appeal to be elected by fellow judges under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
He served as the court’s president between 2013 and 2018, a period during which he championed reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accessibility and the administration of justice.
Among the initiatives associated with his leadership was the decentralisation of the Court of Appeal’s operations, which sought to bring judicial services closer to litigants across the country.
Koome said his contribution to the Judiciary extended beyond judicial leadership, noting that his pioneering work at the Judiciary Training Institute laid the foundation for structured judicial education and professional capacity building.
The institution, which preceded the Kenya Judiciary Academy, played a critical role in developing the skills and professionalism of judges, judicial officers and Judiciary staff.
“His legacy will endure through the institutions he helped build, the reforms he championed and the generations of judicial and legal professionals who benefited from his leadership,” Koome said.
After leaving the Court of Appeal, Kihara Kariuki continued serving the country as Attorney General, bringing decades of legal experience to the position of the Government’s principal legal adviser.
The three leaders expressed their condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased, with the Judiciary describing his life as one devoted to the law, public service and the strengthening of institutions that uphold the rule of law.
His death marks the loss of a prominent figure in Kenya’s legal fraternity whose career spanned judicial leadership, institutional reforms and service at the highest levels of government.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
