NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki has died, with Chief Justice Martha Koome announcing his death on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and paying tribute to his contribution to Kenya’s legal institutions and public service.
Kihara, who served as Kenya’s seventh Attorney General between 2018 and 2022, was also a former President of the Court of Appeal and held several senior positions within the Judiciary during a legal career spanning decades.
In a condolence message, Koome described the retired judge as an accomplished jurist, exemplary judicial leader and dedicated public servant whose contribution to the administration of justice would remain part of Kenya’s institutional history.
She extended her sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues and those who worked with him throughout his career.
Koome said his legacy would endure through the institutions he helped build, the reforms he championed and the generations of legal professionals who benefited from his leadership.
Paul Kihara Kariuki’s career in the Judiciary
Kihara built a distinguished career in law before rising to some of the country’s highest judicial and government offices.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 2003 before being elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2012.
In 2013, he became the first President of the Court of Appeal elected by fellow judges under the 2010 Constitution, serving in the position until 2018.
During his tenure, he contributed to strengthening the institution through reforms aimed at improving its efficiency, accessibility and administration.
The Office of the Attorney General credits him with helping develop key institutional frameworks, including the Court of Appeal Bill and the court’s strategic plan.
He also served as the founding Director of the Judiciary Training Institute, an institution that played a central role in professional development and capacity building for judges, judicial officers and other Judiciary staff.
Before joining the Court of Appeal, Kihara had served as a High Court judge and as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law.
Appointment as Kenya’s Attorney General
In February 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Kihara to succeed Professor Githu Muigai as Attorney General following Muigai’s resignation.
He was subsequently sworn into office in April 2018, becoming the seventh person to serve as the country’s chief legal adviser.
During his four-and-a-half-year tenure, Kihara headed the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice, advising the national government on legal matters and representing its interests in court proceedings.
He served until October 2022, when former President William Ruto appointed Justin Muturi as his successor.
Education and legal background
Kihara graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Laws degree before obtaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
His professional career included private legal practice before his appointment to public service, giving him experience across litigation, commercial law and judicial administration.
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His work also extended to the development of legal education and institutional reforms within Kenya’s justice system.
The Judiciary’s tribute highlighted his contribution to building structures for judicial training and strengthening the Court of Appeal during a formative period under the 2010 constitutional framework.
Judiciary pays tribute to former Attorney General
Koome’s announcement has placed the spotlight on Kihara’s long service in Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions, where he occupied leadership positions both within the Judiciary and the Executive.
His career included service as a High Court judge, Court of Appeal President, Director of the Judiciary Training Institute and Attorney General.
The Chief Justice said his contribution would remain part of the country’s institutional history, particularly through the reforms and professional development structures he helped establish.
Kihara was reported to have been 72 years old. The circumstances and cause of his death had not been publicly disclosed in the initial announcement, while details of his funeral arrangements were yet to be announced.
