List of all Chief Justices in Kenya

Former Chief Justice David Maraga (2016 to 2021)
Former Chief Justice David Maraga (2016 to 2021)

The Chief Justice is the Head of the Judiciary assisted by the Deputy Chief Justice. The Chief Justice is the President of the Supreme Court and links the Judiciary to other arms of Government.

The Chief Justice assigns duties to the Deputy Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Principal Judge of the High Court and the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.

He gives an annual report to the nation on the state of the Judiciary and on the administration of justice; and causes the report to be published in the Gazette, and a copy thereof sent, under the hand of the Chief Justice, to each of the two Clerks of the two Houses of Parliament for it to be placed before the respective Houses for debate and adoption.

The Chief Justice is also the chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The Chief Justice shall hold office for a maximum of ten years or until retiring after attaining sixty five (65) years, whichever is the earlier.

List of all Former Chief Justices in Kenya

S/NName of Chief JusticeBirth…Date when appointedDate when retiredAppointing officer
1Sir Robert Hamilton(1867–1944)19061920Sadler
1Sir Jacob Barth(1871–1941)19201934Northey
2Sir Joseph Sheridan(1882–1964)19341946Byrne
3Sir Barclay Nihill[6](1892–1975)19461951Mitchell
4Sir Horace Hearne[7](1892–1962)19511954Mitchell
5Sir Kenneth O’Connor[8](1896–1985)19541957Baring
6Sir Ronald Sinclair(1903–1996)19571963Baring
7Sir John Ainley(1906–1992)19631963MacDonald
1Sir John Ainley(1906–1992)19631964MacDonald
1Sir John Ainley(1906–1992)19641968Jomo Kenyatta
2Kitili Mwendwa(1929–1985)19681971Jomo Kenyatta
3Sir James Wicks(1901–1989)19711982Jomo Kenyatta
4Sir Alfred Simpson(1914–2003)19821985Daniel Moi
5Chunilal Madan(1912–1989)19851986Daniel Moi
6Cecil Miller(1916–1989)19861989Daniel Moi
7Allan Hancox(1932–2013)19891993Daniel Moi
8Fred Apaloo(1921–2000)19931994Daniel Moi
9Abdul Majid Cockar(1923–2016)19941997Daniel Moi
10Zachaeus Chesoni(1936–1999)19971999Daniel Moi
11Bernard Chunga(1950–)19992003Daniel Moi
12Johnson GicheruDied in 202020032011Mwai Kibaki
13Willy Mutunga(1947–)20112016Mwai Kibaki
14David Maraga(1951–)20162021Uhuru Kenyatta