Justice Gatembu Kairu Storms to Victory as Court of Appeal President!

Justice Steven Gatembu Kairu has been elected the new President of the Court of Appeal, securing 26 of the 41 votes cast in an election conducted by judges of the appellate court on Monday, June 22, 2026. The election recorded a perfect 100 percent voter turnout, with all 41 judges of the Court of Appeal participating in the secret ballot process. This significant poll was overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and brought to a close the process of selecting a successor to Justice Daniel Musinga, whose five-year, non-renewable term as President of the Court of Appeal expired on May 24, 2026.

Justice Kairu triumphed over three other distinguished candidates in the race for the court's top leadership position: Lady Justice Lydia Achode, Justice Patrick Kiage, and Lady Justice Agnes Murgor. Ahead of the vote, the Judiciary had announced the election and the candidates seeking this influential position, emphasizing that the election would be independently supervised by the IEBC.

Speaking after his election, Justice Kairu expressed his profound gratitude to his colleagues for entrusting him with the leadership of the Court of Appeal. He stated, "I am deeply humbled by the trust and confidence reposed in me by my colleagues. I undertake to serve the Court and the people of Kenya with diligence, integrity and fidelity to the Constitution."

The office of the President of the Court of Appeal is one of the most senior and crucial leadership positions within the Judiciary. The holder provides both judicial and administrative leadership to the appellate court, which serves as the second-highest court in the land. This court hears appeals from the High Court and other superior courts across the country on a wide array of civil, criminal, constitutional, and commercial matters.

Justice Kairu brings to this esteemed office decades of extensive experience drawn from legal practice, academia, and judicial service. He has served with distinction as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since 2012 and is widely respected within the legal profession for his exceptional expertise in civil, commercial, and constitutional law. His robust academic background includes a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from Boston University in the United States, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

Before joining the bench, Justice Kairu practiced law for more than two decades as a partner at Kairu & McCourt Advocates, subsequently serving as a full-time arbitrator and mediator. He also dedicated over 20 years to teaching at the University of Nairobi School of Law, where he lectured in subjects such as Civil Procedure, Banking Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, he has also contributed significantly to several key Judiciary committees, including serving as chair of the Integrated Court Management System Committee.

His election comes at a critical time for the Judiciary, as courts continue to grapple with increasing caseloads and major constitutional, commercial, and electoral disputes that frequently reach the appellate court, highlighting the demanding nature of his new leadership role.