Kenya is mourning the death of former Attorney General and retired President of the Court of Appeal, Paul Kihara Kariuki, whose distinguished career in the legal profession and public service spanned several decades.
Kariuki, who served as Kenya’s Attorney General between 2018 and 2022, died aged 72. His death was confirmed on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with Chief Justice Martha Koome leading tributes from the Judiciary and remembering him as an accomplished jurist, exemplary judicial leader and dedicated public servant.
In a condolence message, Koome expressed sorrow over the passing of the retired judge, extending sympathies to his family, friends, professional colleagues and everyone who had the opportunity to work with him.
“It is with profound sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Hon. Justice (Rtd.) Paul Kihara Kariuki, EGH, former Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya and former President of the Court of Appeal,” Koome said.
She noted that his contribution to the administration of justice and the development of Kenya’s legal institutions would remain an enduring part of the country’s institutional history.
His death marks the end of a long legal career that saw him serve in private practice, judicial leadership, legal education and the Executive.
From private legal practice to the Judiciary
Born on May 11, 1954, in Kiambu County, Kariuki was the son of the late Anglican Church Bishop Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu.
He attended Nairobi School before proceeding to the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1977. He subsequently obtained a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law.
His professional journey began at Hamilton, Harrison and Mathews Advocates, where he worked as a legal assistant between 1977 and 1980 before becoming a partner at the firm.
In 1986, he co-founded the law firm Ndungu Njoroge and Kwach Advocates, where he continued practising until 2000.
He later served as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law, an experience that placed him at the centre of legal training and professional development in the country.
His transition into the Judiciary came in October 2003, when he was appointed a judge of the High Court by former President Mwai Kibaki.
Making history at the Court of Appeal
Kariuki’s judicial career continued to advance, eventually leading to his appointment as a judge of the Court of Appeal.
In 2013, he became President of the Court of Appeal, a position he held until 2018.
He made history as the first President of the Court of Appeal elected by fellow judges under the 2010 Constitution, marking an important development in the administration and leadership of Kenya’s appellate court.
During his tenure, he championed institutional reforms aimed at improving the court’s efficiency and accessibility.
Among the initiatives associated with his leadership was the decentralisation of Court of Appeal operations, intended to bring judicial services closer to Kenyans and improve access to justice.
He also contributed to the development of the institutional framework of the appellate court, including work associated with the Court of Appeal Bill and its strategic planning.
Another significant aspect of his judicial legacy was his contribution to judicial education.
As the founding Director of the Judiciary Training Institute, Kariuki helped establish the foundations for structured judicial training, professional development and capacity building for judges, judicial officers and Judiciary staff.
Chief Justice Koome singled out this contribution as one of his most enduring achievements, noting that the institution became an important foundation for the development of today’s Kenya Judiciary Academy.
His years as Attorney General
In February 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Kariuki to become Kenya’s seventh Attorney General following the resignation of Professor Githu Muigai.
He was sworn into office in April 2018, taking responsibility as the Government’s principal legal adviser under Article 156 of the Constitution.
As Attorney General, he provided legal guidance to government ministries, departments and agencies while representing the national government in legal proceedings.
His tenure coincided with several significant constitutional and political developments, including the legal battles surrounding the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
The BBI process, which sought constitutional changes following the March 2018 political rapprochement between Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, faced major legal challenges.
The courts eventually declared the constitutional amendment process unconstitutional, with the dispute proceeding through different levels of the Judiciary.
Kariuki’s tenure also coincided with disagreements between the Executive and the Judiciary over the appointment and swearing-in of judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission.
These developments placed the Office of the Attorney General at the centre of some of the country’s most consequential constitutional debates during the Kenyatta administration.
At the conclusion of his tenure, Kariuki reported that the Office of the Attorney General had concluded 4,541 cases filed against the national government, issued 3,119 legal opinions to government ministries, departments and agencies, and approved 252 procurement contracts.
He left office in October 2022 following the change of administration, handing over to Justin Muturi, who succeeded him as Attorney General under President William Ruto.
Leaders pay tribute to the retired jurist
Following news of his death, Chief Justice Koome paid tribute to Kariuki’s contribution to the Judiciary, highlighting the institutions he helped build, reforms he championed and legal professionals who benefited from his leadership.
President William Ruto also joined the country in mourning the former Attorney General.
In his condolence message, the President described Kariuki as an accomplished jurist and dedicated public servant whose contribution to Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions would be remembered.
The tributes reflect the breadth of Kariuki’s public service, which extended beyond his time as Attorney General to include judicial administration, legal education and private legal practice.
A legacy beyond public office
Kariuki’s professional journey placed him in several important positions within Kenya’s justice system.
From his early years in private legal practice to his leadership of the Kenya School of Law, the Judiciary Training Institute and the Court of Appeal, he participated in different stages of the development of the country’s legal institutions.
His appointment as Attorney General in 2018 brought that experience into the Executive, where he served as the Government’s principal legal adviser for four years.
While his tenure as Attorney General coincided with difficult constitutional disputes and intense national debates, his broader career was also defined by institutional leadership and contributions to judicial training and administration.
As Kenya mourns his passing, attention turns to the family, colleagues and legal fraternity he leaves behind.
For the Judiciary, his contribution will be remembered through the institutions he helped strengthen and the generations of legal professionals who benefited from his experience and leadership.
Chief Justice Koome summed up the Judiciary’s tribute by observing that his legacy would endure through the institutions he helped build, the reforms he championed and the professionals whose careers were shaped by his service.
Paul Kihara Kariuki’s death therefore closes a significant chapter in the history of Kenya’s legal profession, leaving behind a record of service that traversed the courtroom, legal education and the highest levels of government.
