Attorney General Muigai resigns, Solicitor-General replaced

Former AG Githu Muigai at a past function. [Courtesy]

Attorney General Githu Muigai has resigned and a and Justice Paul Kihara named as his repalcement.

Prof Muigai  has held the position since taking over from Amos Wako in August 2011 following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed the resignation on his Twitter account, saying he regretted the resignation and thanked him for his service.

“I wish to place on record, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Kenya, our gratitude for the committed and dedicated service that Professor Muigai has accorded to our nation over the last six and a half years that he has served in the office of Attorney General. I wish Professor Muigai all the very best in the next phase of his professional career,” read part of President Uhuru’s statement sent to newsrooms.

I have received with regret the resignation of Attorney General Prof. Githu Muigai. I thank him for his service for the last six and a half years. I have nominated as his replacement Judge Paul Kihara Kariuki.

— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) February 13, 2018

Prof Githu’s position will be taken by the suave President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki if approved by the National Assembly.

Before his appointment as AG Prof Muigai was a partner in Mohammed-Muigai Advocates and has been a UN special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

He  holds a a master’s degree in International Law from the Columbia University Law School, New York.

The illustrious part of his career had to be his sterling defence of the Kenyan Government at the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he successfully thwarted  the prosecutions attempts to obtain President Uhuru Kenyatta banking details and phone logs.

The president and his deputy William Ruto had faced charges of crime against humanity in relation to the killings that that followed the disputed election in 2007/2008. The court has since cleared them.

He will also be remembered for his key role in the now-iconic supreme court petition challenging President Uhuru win in August 2017.

New appointments
President Uhuru also announced a host of other appointments that will see Kennedy Ogeto assume the position of position of Solicitor-General  from Njee Muturi,and Abdikadir Hussein Mohammed nominated  Ambassador to South Korea. Muturi is now the Deputy Chief of Staff at State house.

Former Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Olive Mugenda, PatrickGichohi and Felix Koskei have also been nominated to the Judiciary Service Commission.