CJ Koome Appoints Justice Wanjiru Karanja as Acting Court of Appeal President

Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Wanjiru Karanja as the acting President of the Court of Appeal.

This is after the expiry of the term of Justice Daniel Musinga’s five-year non-renewable tenure on 24 May 2026.

Justice Wanjiru  Karanja, who is the most senior judge at the Court of Appeal, will take over the leadership of the appellate court in an acting capacity as the Judiciary manages the transition at the top of the court’s administration.

The election has been scheduled for June 22, 2026, within the statutory 30-day window following the vacancy.

Wanjiru Karanja Named as the President of Court of Appeal

Justice Wanjiru Karanja is a seasoned judicial officer with extensive experience in Kenya’s judiciary.

She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of London and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nairobi.

Her judicial career began in March 1985 when she was first appointed as District Magistrate II (Professional) and later rose through the ranks to become a Chief Magistrate in charge of the Anti-Corruption Court in 2002.

In 2004, Justice Wanjiru was appointed a High Court Judge, serving in various stations before her elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2012.

In addition, she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, both in the London and Kenya chapters.

Justice Musinga Tenure Ends as Court of Appeal President

This leadership change follows the exit of Justice Musinga, who served as the President of the Court of Appeal after being elected in 2021 for a non-renewable five-year term.

Before his appointment to the High Court, Justice Musinga served on a tribunal appointed by President Mwai Kibaki in 2003 to investigate the conduct of suspended judges.

He also held leadership positions in the legal profession, including serving as Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya (Mombasa branch) and the Kenya Christian Lawyers Fellowship.

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Justice Musinga later served as Presiding Judge of the Constitutional and Judicial Review Division and was appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal in December 2012.

In 2013, former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga appointed him as the first Chairperson of the Performance Management and Measurement Steering Committee, which helped institutionalise performance management in the Judiciary.

During his tenure, he presided over the administrative leadership of the appellate court, which remains one of the highest judicial institutions in Kenya, handling appeals from the High Court and other subordinate courts.

Election Process for the President of the Court of Appeal

According to the election roadmap, the exercise will be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which oversees the process under the Court of Appeal Election Rules 2013.

The pre-election process includes formal notification of the vacancy, submission of the register of Court of Appeal judges eligible to vote, issuance of an election notice, and a nomination period for candidates.

IEBC is expected to publish the election notice by June 8, at least 14 days before the vote day, formally opening nominations for interested candidates.

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Nominations will run from June 8 to June 15, with candidates required to submit either self-nomination papers or nominations backed by colleagues.

Following verification of candidates’ eligibility and consent, IEBC will publish the final list of contenders on June 16.

However, in cases where only one candidate is cleared, the rules allow for automatic election without a vote.

If multiple candidates qualify, judges will cast secret ballots on election day between 10 am and 1 pm, and absentee voting by email will also be permitted under the election rules.

The winning candidate must secure an outright majority of votes cast. Where no candidate attains more than 50 per cent in the first round, a runoff between the top two contenders will be held.

The election outcome will be certified by IEBC and transmitted to the Chief Justice before the successful candidate formally assumes office.

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Martha Koome , Chief Justice. Photo/ Judiciary / Fb