Four judges are seeking to elected Court of appeal President, from left Justice Agnes Murgor, Patrick Kiage, Gatembu Kairu and Lydia Achode.
Judges of the Court of Appeal are currently voting to elect a new president of the court following the expiry of Justice Daniel Musinga’s term.
Justice Musinga, who was born in August 1963, was elected by Court of Appeal judges in 2021 to serve a non-renewable five-year term.
His tenure came to an end on May 24, 2026. Four judges are seeking to succeed him: Justices Gatembu Kairu, Patrick Kiage, Agnes Murgor and Lydia Achode.
Justice Kairu, born in July 1960, holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Boston University, obtained in 1990, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi (1984) and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (1985).
Before joining the Judiciary, he worked as a legal assistant at Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates and later as an associate at Kimani Kairu & Company Advocates.
He co-founded Kairu & McCourt Advocates in 1993 and remained a partner until 2009, when he transitioned into full-time arbitration and mediation.
Justice Kairu joined the Judiciary in 2012 after being appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Prior to that, he lectured at the University of Nairobi School of Law from 1990.
Justice Kiage, who was born in 1969, attended Alliance High School for both his Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) and Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) before enrolling at the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor of Laws degree.
He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 1992 and later earned a Master of Laws degree from New York University.
During his years in private practice, Justice Kiage appeared before courts at all levels, including the High Court and Court of Appeal, handling civil, commercial, matrimonial and succession matters.
He also built a reputation as a criminal defence lawyer, with a decade of experience in criminal litigation.
His legal career saw him work at Kurgat & Associates before moving to Nyachae & Company Advocates and later establishing Kiage & Company Advocates, where he served as sole proprietor and subsequently senior partner between 1993 and 2007.
Justice Murgor was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal in December 2012 and is currently stationed in Nairobi.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of London, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Buckingham and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
Admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1987, she began her legal career as a legal assistant at Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates before joining the Attorney General’s Chambers, where she served as a State Counsel in the Treaties and Agreements Department between 1988 and 1992.
She later became a partner at Murgor & Murgor Advocates, specialising in corporate and commercial transactions between 1992 and 2007.
She subsequently joined East African Breweries Limited (EABL) as Legal Counsel and Group Company Secretary, overseeing legal affairs for the company and its 10 subsidiaries operating across six East African countries.
Justice Achode holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi (1985) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (1986).
She brings more than 35 years of experience in the legal profession, having served as Principal Judge of the High Court between 2018 and 2022, a High Court judge since 2011, Registrar of the High Court from 2008 to 2011, Chief Court Administrator from 2004 to 2008 and Senior Principal Magistrate in 2004.
Her judicial career also includes service as Principal Magistrate (2000–2004), Senior Resident Magistrate (1994–2000), Resident Magistrate (1988–1994) and District Magistrate II (Professional) between 1986 and 1988.
The election is being conducted through a secret ballot and is being overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Results are expected to be announced on Thursday afternoon.
The President of the Court of Appeal serves as both the administrative and judicial head of the court.
The office is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the appellate justice system through court administration, constituting benches and coordinating the timely disposal of cases.
Among the holder’s key responsibilities is assigning judges and constituting panels to hear and determine appeals.
