Justice Gatembu Kairu Elected President Of Court Of Appeal
News Updated: 22 June 2026 15:14 EAT
Justice Gatembu Kairu who has been elected new president of the Court of Appeal
Justice Gatembu Kairu has been elected as the new President of the Court of Appeal after securing 26 votes in an election held on Monday, June 22, defeating fellow appellate judges Justice Lydia Achode, Justice Patrick Kiage and Justice Agnes Murgor in the race for leadership of Kenya’s second-highest court.
Justice Kairu succeeds Justice Daniel Musinga whose constitutionally prescribed five-year non-renewable term ended on May 24, 2026, creating a vacancy that triggered the election process.
Before the election, Chief Justice Martha Koome had appointed Justice Wanjiru Karanja to temporarily oversee the office pending the selection of a substantive holder. Justice Karanja assumed the role in an acting capacity to ensure continuity in court administration.
The election was conducted under the Court of Appeal Election Rules, 2013 and supervised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission through a secret ballot process. Judges of the Court of Appeal elected one of their own in accordance with Kenya’s judicial framework.
As President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kairu will provide judicial and administrative leadership to the appellate court and represent it within the governance structures of the Judiciary, including participation in institutional decision-making processes.
Justice Kairu joined the Judiciary in 2012 after his appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal following a competitive recruitment process. Prior to joining the Bench, he practiced law, worked in arbitration and mediation, and lectured at the University of Nairobi School of Law. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from Boston University.
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FELIX MAKONA
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