Former Attorney General and retired Court of Appeal President Paul Kihara Kariuki has died, prompting tributes from the Judiciary, with Chief Justice Martha Koome describing him as an accomplished jurist whose contribution to Kenya’s legal institutions will endure.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, November 3, Koome, speaking on behalf of the Judiciary fraternity, mourned Kariuki, describing him as an exemplary judicial leader and dedicated public servant who played a significant role in strengthening the country’s justice system.
“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 extended condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and everyone whose lives he touched during his distinguished career in public service.
Kariuki served as a Judge of the High Court after his appointment in 2003 before being elevated to the Court of Appeal, where he made history as the first President elected by fellow judges under the 2010 Constitution.
He served as President of the Court of Appeal between 2013 and 2018, during which he championed reforms aimed at strengthening the institution, improving efficiency and making court services more accessible.
Among the reforms highlighted by Koome was the decentralisation of the Court of Appeal’s operations, which helped strengthen its reach beyond Nairobi.
“During his tenure as President of the Court of Appeal from 2013 to 2018, he provided visionary leadership that strengthened the institutional foundations of the Court,” the Chief Justice said.
She also recognised his contribution to judicial training, noting that he served as the founding Director of the Judiciary Training Institute, the predecessor of the Kenya Judiciary Academy.
Koome said Kariuki laid the operational foundations for structured judicial education, professional development and capacity building for judges, judicial officers and Judiciary staff.
Beyond the Judiciary, Kariuki continued serving the country as Attorney General from 2018 to 2022, becoming the government’s principal legal adviser.
His appointment followed the exit of Prof Githu Muigai, and he served in the position until the transition to Justin Muturi in 2022.
Koome said his legacy would live on through the institutions he helped establish, reforms he championed and legal professionals who benefited from his leadership.
“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,” she said.
The Chief Justice further prayed for strength and comfort for his family, describing his life as one devoted to the law, public service and the strengthening of institutions that sustain the rule of law.
“May Almighty God grant his family strength and consolation, and may his soul rest in eternal peace,” she added.
Kariuki was admitted to the Bar in 1978 after obtaining his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law.
He practised at several legal firms, including Hamilton Harrison and Mathews and Ndung’u Njoroge and Kwach Advocates, before serving as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law.
He was appointed to head the Judiciary Training Institute in 2009, where he helped establish systems for professional development and training of judicial personnel. He subsequently became a Judge of the Court of Appeal and its President before his appointment as Attorney General in 2018.
Kariuki was Kenya’s seventh Attorney General and served from 2018 until 2022, when he handed over to Justin Muturi.
