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Gatembu Kairu has won the election for President of the Court of Appeal after securing the majority of votes cast by appellate court judges. He received 26 votes from the 41 ballots cast during the election.
His victory places him in charge of Kenya’s second-highest court. He succeeds Daniel Musinga, whose five-year term ended in May 2026.
Justice Kairu defeated three experienced judges in the contest. The race attracted Lydia Achode, Patrick Kiage and Agnes Murgor.
The election followed Judiciary procedures that guide the selection of the court’s leadership. Judges of the appellate court voted to choose the person who will oversee both judicial and administrative functions.
As President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kairu will coordinate the court’s operations across the country. He will also provide leadership as the court handles constitutional, electoral and public interest appeals.
Justice Kairu brings decades of legal experience to the position. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi in 1984 and later obtained a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
He furthered his studies in the United States and earned a Master of Laws degree from Boston University in 1990. He later taught law at the University of Nairobi while building his legal career.
Before joining the bench, Kairu worked in private practice and arbitration. He co-founded Kairu & McCourt Advocates and later focused on mediation and dispute resolution.
The Judicial Service Commission appointed him to the Court of Appeal in 2012 after a competitive recruitment process. He has served on the appellate bench for more than a decade.
His election signals a new chapter for the Court of Appeal. He now takes charge of a key institution that shapes some of Kenya’s most important legal decisions.
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