Former UhuRuto Era attorney general Paul Kihara Kariuki has died at the age of 72. Kariuki was a lawyer and a retired judge who held the AG position between 2018 and 2022 after he was appointed by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to replace Githu Muigai, who had resigned following the hotly contested 2017 elections.
Chief Justice Martha Koome released a message of condolence describing him as an accomplished jurist who was committed to his work and made immense contributions to the legal practice in Kenya.
“Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki was 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,” said Justice Marther Koome.
President William Ruto described him as dedicated public servant and said his passing was ‘great sadness’ for the people of Kenya.
“We shall remember Justice Kihara as an accomplished jurist and dedicated public servant, who made an invaluable contribution to the development and strengthening of Kenya’s legal and judicial institutions. His distinguished service included his role as the founding director of the Judiciary Training Institute, where he helped shape the professional development of Kenya’s judicial officers,” said President Ruto on his X.
Paul Kihara Kariuki was appointed Judge of the High Court in 2003, where he served with diligence and commitment before he was promoted to the Court of Appeal. At the appellate court, Paul Kihara Kariuki rose through the ranks to become the first President of the Court, elected by his fellow Judges, under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
He served as President of the Court of Appeal between 2013 and 2018, providing visionary leadership that strengthened the institutional foundations of the Court. Paul Kihara championed reforms aimed at improving its efficiency and accessibility, including the decentralisation of its operations.
Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki Family Life, Career, Education And Judicial Service
Paul Kihara Kariuki was born on May 11, 1954, in Kiambu County. He was the last-born son of the late Bishop Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu.
The late Justice Kariuki attended Nairobi School before joining the University of Nairobi to study an undergraduate law degree. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1977 and later studied for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law.
One of Justice Kihara Kariuki’s most enduring contributions to the Judiciary was his pioneering leadership as the founding Director of the Judiciary Training Institute, the predecessor of today’s Kenya Judiciary Academy. He laid the operational foundations for a structured and institutionalised approach to judicial education, professional development and capacity building for Judges, Judicial Officers and Judiciary staff.
His legal training paved the way for a career that would see him serve in private practice, the Judiciary and the Office of the Attorney General.
Justice Kariuki married Sarah Njoki Kimingi Kariuki in 1976.
In 1986, he co-founded Ndungu Njoroge and Kwach Advocates, where he served as legal counsel until 2000.
Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki will be remembered as a dedicated legal mind who was appointed by two presidents to hold important positions within Kenya’s legal system. From his appointment to the Court of Appeal by the late former President Mwai Kibaki to his 2018 appointment as AG, Justice Kariuki was always keen to elevate the quality of legal practice in Kenya.
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