IEBC to oversee Court of Appeal president election as 4 judges face off in secret ballot showdown
By Mustafa Juma, June 21, 2026Judges of the Court of Appeal are set to elect their next president on Monday, June 22, 2026, in a rare internal judicial election that will be conducted through a secret ballot and overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The election follows the expiry of the term of the outgoing Court of Appeal President, Justice Daniel Musinga, whose tenure ended on May 24, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Judiciary of Kenya on Sunday, June 21, 2026, the contest will feature four senior judges of Appeal vying for one of the most influential leadership positions within the appellate court system.
The candidates in the race are Justice Gatembu Kairu, Justice Patrick Kiage, Lady Justice Agnes Murgor, and Lady Justice Lydia Achode.
“Judges of Appeal are set to elect the President of the Court of Appeal tomorrow Monday, 22nd June 2026. This follows the expiry of the term of the former President of the Court of Appeal Justice Daniel Musinga on 24th May 2026. The candidates are Justice Gatembu Kairu, Justice Patrick Kiage, Lady Justice Agnes Murgor and Lady Justice Lydia Achode,” the Judiciary wrote on X.
Secret ballot process under IEBC supervision
The Judiciary confirmed that the election will be conducted through a secret ballot process, with IEBC officials expected to oversee and validate the voting exercise to ensure transparency and credibility.
“Election will be by secret ballot and will be overseen by the IEBC,” the statement read.
The use of IEBC in an internal judicial leadership election underscores the formal and structured nature of the process, which determines who will steer the Court of Appeal, Kenya’s second-highest court.
The President of the Court of Appeal plays a key administrative and leadership role, including case management coordination, judicial leadership, and representation of the court in the broader judiciary governance structure.
Succession after Musinga’s tenure
Justice Daniel Musinga’s term officially ended in May 2026 after serving as head of the Court of Appeal, marking the end of a leadership cycle that saw key administrative and procedural reforms within the appellate court.
His exit has triggered a competitive succession race among senior appellate judges, all of whom bring extensive judicial experience and long careers within Kenya’s legal system.
High-stakes internal judiciary contest
The Monday election is expected to be closely watched within legal circles due to its implications for judicial leadership direction, case backlog management, and institutional reforms at the Court of Appeal.
Each of the four candidates is considered highly experienced, having presided over major appellate decisions that have shaped Kenya’s legal landscape.
The outcome will determine who takes charge of the court at a time when the judiciary continues to handle complex constitutional, electoral, and commercial disputes.
Once elected, the new President of the Court of Appeal will assume office immediately, taking over administrative leadership responsibilities and representing the appellate court in the Judiciary’s top decision-making forums.
New judges sworn-in
The event comes months after 15 Court of Appeal judges were sworn in.
The high-profile event at State House was presided over by President William Ruto, Chief Justice Martha Koome and other stakeholders within the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The judges donned maroon ceremonial attire, with black stripes around the waist and matching black scarves around the neck.
During the ceremony, the judges took an oath to uphold the Constitution and carry out their duties as Court of Appeal judges without bias.