Former Attorney General and ex-President of the Court of Appeal Paul Kihara Kariuki has died at the age of 72. Chief Justice Martha Koome paid tribute to him as a distinguished jurist and judicial reformer who significantly contributed to strengthening Kenya's courts. Koome described Kihara as a dedicated public servant whose life was defined by service to the law and efforts to improve the country's justice system.
Kihara was born on May 11, 1954, in Kiambu County, to the late Anglican Bishop Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu. He attended Nairobi School and later enrolled at the University of Nairobi, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1977. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law, laying the foundation for his successful career in law.
Kihara began his career in 1977 at Hamilton, Harrison and Mathews, working as a legal assistant before becoming a partner in 1981. He co-founded Ndungu Njoroge and Kwach Advocates in 1986, where he practiced until 2000. His entry into public service came when he was appointed principal and chief executive officer of the Kenya School of Law. In October 2003, he was appointed a judge of the High Court by former President Mwai Kibaki.
Kihara's judicial leadership responsibilities expanded in 2006 when he headed the Integrity Review Committee established by then Chief Justice Evan Gicheru. He was appointed director of the Judicial Training Institute in 2009, championing judicial capacity-building and institutional reforms. His work at the institute helped establish a framework for the professional development of judges and judicial officers.
In 2012, Kihara was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal and became its president in 2013, a position he held until 2018. During his tenure, he led reforms aimed at improving the court's efficiency, accessibility, and administration of justice. He contributed to the development of proposals that informed the Court of Appeal Bill and the court's strategic plan, further solidifying his legacy in the judiciary.
As Attorney General, Kihara was involved in several landmark legal battles, including the defense of the controversial Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in March 2022. He also defended the creation of Chief Administrative Secretary positions and President Uhuru Kenyatta's refusal to appoint 41 judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission.
Kihara maintained close ties with the legal and religious communities, serving as honorary legal adviser to the Anglican Church of Kenya and belonging to several professional organizations, including the Law Society of Kenya and the International Bar Association. He was sworn in as Kenya's seventh Attorney General in April 2018, serving as the government's principal legal adviser until 2022.
Key points
- Former Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki died at the age of 72.
- Kihara was a distinguished jurist and judicial reformer.
- He served as Attorney General from 2018 to 2022.
