Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome has appointed Lady Justice Wanjiru Karanja as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment comes after the expiry of the term of Justice Daniel Musinga’s five-year non-renewable tenure on 24 May 2026.
Lady Justice Karanja, the most senior judge in the Court of Appeal, will serve in an acting capacity until judges of the court elect a new President from among themselves, in line with established judicial procedures.
According to the roadmap, the election has been scheduled for Monday, 22 June 2026, and will take place in Nairobi, with voting set to run between 10:00am and 1:00pm at the Sarova Stanley Hotel or another venue as may be directed by the Chief Justice
End of Justice Musinga’s Five-Year Tenure
The leadership change follows the completion of the constitutional term of Daniel Musinga, who has been serving as President of the Court of Appeal since his election in 2021.
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His term officially ended on 24 May 2026, marking the conclusion of a single, non-renewable five-year leadership period as prescribed under the judiciary’s governance framework.
During his tenure, he presided over 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.
With the expiry of his term, the office of President of the Court of Appeal became vacant, necessitating interim administrative arrangements to ensure continuity of court operations.
Vacancy Declaration and Early Administrative Steps
The Judiciary has outlined a detailed roadmap for the 2026 election of the President of the Court of Appeal,
Under the established framework, Chief Justice Martha Koome, in consultation with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), formally set the election date within the statutory timelines.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary is required to submit a certified register of all Court of Appeal judges eligible to vote, along with a copy of the applicable Election Rules, to the IEBC.
By 8 June 2026, the IEBC is expected to issue an official notice of election, formally announcing the voting date, time, and venue, as well as the nomination deadlines.
The notice also marks the official opening of the nomination period, which runs from 8 June to 15 June 2026 at 5:00pm. During this window, judges may submit either self-nominations using Form A or nominate colleagues using Form B.
Following closure of nominations on 15 June 2026, the IEBC will proceed with verification of eligibility, consent, and compliance with the election rules.
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Election Day Process, Results, and Post-Election Transition
On 22 June 2026, voting will take place from 10:00am to 1:00pm under strict procedural safeguards.
Counting will begin immediately after voting closes and will be conducted by the IEBC in the presence of candidates or their representatives. A candidate must secure more than 50 percent of valid votes to be declared elected. If no candidate achieves a majority, a runoff election will be held between the top two contenders, with tie-breaking provisions applied where necessary.
Once results are finalized, the IEBC will issue a formal declaration through Form C and transmit the certificate of election to the Chief Justice. Any disputes arising from the process may be lodged immediately, with the IEBC appointing an independent officer to review complaints, whose determination is final under Rule 9.4.
The elected President will assume office upon certification, with transitional arrangements continuing until formal handover procedures are completed.
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