On June 22, 2026, Kenya’s legal world witnessed a landmark moment as Justice Stephen Gatembu Kairu was elected President of the Court of Appeal, securing 26 of 41 votes cast in a decisive election that underscored his standing among Kenya’s appellate judiciary. That outcome was not the product of sudden fortune but the culmination of a career built across four decades of legal practice, academia, arbitration, and judicial service. His election represents the ascent of a jurist who has consistently been at the forefront of Kenya’s most consequential constitutional and commercial disputes.
Justice Gatembu Kairu is one of Kenya’s most respected jurists, known for his deep expertise in civil, commercial, and constitutional law, and for delivering judgments that are widely recognised for their meticulous research and analytical precision. His ascent from a legal assistant at a Nairobi law firm to the presidency of the country’s second-highest court is a story of intellectual rigour, professional discipline, and a commitment to the rule of law that has defined every stage of his public life.
Beyond the courtroom, Kairu has served as a law lecturer, a trained alternative dispute resolution practitioner, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. His election as President of the Court of Appeal at a time when Kenya’s judiciary faces complex constitutional and public interest matters places him at the intersection of judicial leadership and national relevance in ways that will shape Kenyan law for years to come.
Profile
| Full Name | Stephen Gatembu Kairu |
| Born | July 1960 |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Judge, President of the Court of Appeal of Kenya |
Early Life
Justice Gatembu Kairu was born in July 1960 in Kenya. Details of his earliest years and family background remain largely private, as is consistent with his reserved public profile.
What is documented is that he pursued his legal education with the focus and dedication that would later define his judicial career.
His formative years in Kenya gave him a grounding in the realities of Kenyan society that has informed his judicial philosophy throughout his career.
Education
Justice Kairu’s academic credentials are impressive and diverse. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi in 1984, one of Kenya’s most prestigious institutions of legal education.
He subsequently obtained a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 1985, completing the professional requirements for admission to the Kenyan bar.
His intellectual curiosity then took him abroad, and in 1990 he earned a Master of Laws degree specialising in banking law from Boston University in the United States, a qualification that would prove foundational to his later work in commercial and financial disputes. He was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1985.
Beyond his formal academic qualifications, Justice Kairu pursued training in Alternative Dispute Resolution through the Center for Africa Peace and Conflict Resolution at California State University, USA. He has facilitated ADR training workshops in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, reflecting his recognition as a practitioner of international standing in dispute resolution.
Career
Justice Kairu’s legal career began in private practice immediately after his admission to the bar in 1985. He joined Hamilton Harrison and Mathews Advocates as a Legal Assistant, one of Kenya’s oldest and most distinguished law firms, where he received grounding in litigation, commercial law, and client service.
He subsequently worked as an Associate at Kimani Kairu and Company Advocates, deepening his expertise across civil and commercial practice areas.
In 1993, he co-founded the law firm of Kairu and McCourt Advocates, which he built into a respected practice engaged in civil litigation, banking law, insurance law, and arbitration proceedings in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and subordinate courts.
He remained a partner at that firm until 2009, when he transitioned into full-time work as a professional arbitrator and mediator, a role in which he handled complex commercial and banking disputes across the region.
Throughout his years in private practice, Justice Kairu also committed significant time to legal education. He joined the University of Nairobi School of Law as a lecturer in 1990 and taught there for more than two decades. His subjects included Alternative Dispute Resolution, Banking Law, Civil Procedure and Practice, HIV/AIDS and the Law, the Law of Torts, and the Law of International Institutions.
He also taught Criminal Procedure and Practice and Family Law at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and Trial Advocacy at the Kenya School of Law, building a reputation as a rigorous and thoughtful teacher who connected academic theory with courtroom practice.
In 2012, following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service Commission, President Mwai Kibaki appointed Justice Kairu as a Judge of the Court of Appeal, a position he assumed in November of that year. He has since served in the court’s various stations, including at Mombasa, and has been involved in landmark rulings touching on constitutional law, commercial disputes, electoral petitions, and public interest matters.
In June 2026, his peers elected him President of the Court of Appeal, succeeding Justice Daniel Musinga whose five-year non-renewable term expired in May 2026. Justice Kairu won decisively, garnering 26 votes out of 41 cast, ahead of Lady Justice Lydia Achode, Justice Patrick Kiage, and Lady Justice Agnes Murgor.
In addition to his judicial responsibilities, Justice Kairu has served on various committees within the Kenyan Judiciary and has been involved in capacity-building for judicial officers and legal practitioners across East Africa.
He is a member of several professional organisations, including the East Africa Law Society, contributing to regional legal development and harmonisation.
Honours & Recognitions
Justice Kairu’s distinguished service has been recognised through his election to the presidency of the Court of Appeal of Kenya in June 2026, an outcome that reflects the confidence of his peers in his leadership, integrity, and judicial acumen.
His Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators is a mark of international recognition in the field of dispute resolution. His long service to legal education at the University of Nairobi and his facilitation of regional ADR training programmes further attest to his contributions beyond the bench.
Social Media
Justice Gatembu Kairu maintains a minimal public social media presence, consistent with the judicial culture of restraint in Kenya.
His profile is primarily documented through the official Kenya Judiciary website and case law databases, where his judgments are publicly accessible through the Kenya Law Reports portal.
Personal Life
Justice Kairu keeps his personal life very private, as is typical of senior Kenyan judicial officers.
He is known within legal circles as a composed, intellectually rigorous individual whose professional conduct is marked by measured judgment and personal integrity.
Upon his election as President of the Court of Appeal, he pledged to serve the court and the people of Kenya with diligence, integrity, and fidelity to the Constitution.
Net Worth
Justice Gatembu Kairu’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, which is consistent with Kenyan judicial ethics and the norms of judicial office.
His income is derived from his judicial salary and the allowances attached to his office as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya, which is among the senior branches of the public service.
Prior to joining the Judiciary, he earned income from legal practice, arbitration, and academic employment at the University of Nairobi. Specific figures have not been reported in any verified source and are therefore not stated here.
Political Career Timeline
- 1985 – Admitted to the Roll of Advocates; joined Hamilton Harrison and Mathews Advocates
- 1990 – Completed LLM (Banking Law), Boston University; joined University of Nairobi School of Law as lecturer
- 1993 – Co-founded Kairu and McCourt Advocates
- 2009 – Transitioned to full-time arbitration and mediation practice
- 2012 – Appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya by President Mwai Kibaki
- 2026 – Elected President of the Court of Appeal of Kenya
Conclusion
Justice Stephen Gatembu Kairu’s elevation to the presidency of Kenya’s Court of Appeal in June 2026 marks the culmination of a career defined by intellectual distinction, professional versatility, and deep commitment to the rule of law.
From early years in private legal practice and law teaching to over a decade on the appellate bench, he has consistently demonstrated the qualities of a jurist worthy of the highest judicial responsibilities in the land.
As President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kairu is expected to provide decisive leadership to the appellate court at a critical juncture in Kenya’s constitutional development.
His pledge to serve with diligence, integrity, and fidelity to the Constitution resonates as a statement of purpose that will define his tenure. His story is a powerful reminder that great institutions are sustained by individuals who invest in both legal excellence and public service over the long arc of a career.