Paul Kihara Kariuki, Kenya’s former Attorney General and a retired President of the Court of Appeal, has died at the age of 72. His death has been confirmed by his family and Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Koome issued a statement mourning him as “An accomplished jurist, an exemplary judicial leader and a dedicated public servant whose contributions to the administration of justice and the development of Kenya’s legal institutions will remain an enduring part of our institutional history.”
President William Ruto has also paid tribute, noting Kariuki’s role in strengthening Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions, particularly as the founding director of the Judiciary Training Institute.
Early life and education
Paul Kihara Kariuki was born on 11 May 1954 in Kiambu County. He was the son of the late Anglican Bishop Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu, daughter of Senior Chief Koinange. He attended Nairobi School and graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1977. He later obtained a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in 1978.
Career
Kariuki began in private practice, working first at Hamilton, Harrison & Mathews and later co-founding Ndungu Njoroge and Kwach Advocates. He served as Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law before his appointment as a High Court judge in 2003.
He was elevated to the Court of Appeal and in 2013 became the first President of the Court of Appeal elected by fellow judges under the 2010 Constitution, a position he held until 2018. During this period he led reforms to improve efficiency and accessibility, including the decentralisation of appellate operations, and served as founding Director of the Judiciary Training Institute.
Attorney General
In February 2018 President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated him as Kenya’s seventh Attorney General. He was sworn in in April 2018 and served until October 2022. As the government’s principal legal adviser he handled major constitutional and legal matters. At the end of his tenure the Office of the Attorney General reported that it had concluded 4,541 cases, issued 3,119 legal opinions and approved 252 procurement contracts.
Personal life
He was married to Sarah Njoki Kariuki and the couple had three children. He was a member of the Anglican Church.Kariuki’s nearly five-decade career spanned private practice, legal education, the judiciary and senior government service. His contributions to Kenya’s justice system continue to be recognised by colleagues and national leaders.
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