Politics of Kenya
National Government Constitution History Human rights LGBT rights
Executive President (list) William Ruto Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Cabinet Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi Attorney General Justin Muturi Director of Public Prosecutions Renson M. Ingonga
Legislature National Assembly Speaker: Moses Wetangula List of members Constituencies Senate Speaker: Amason Kingi List of members
Judiciary Chief Justice Martha Koome Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court Subordinate courts Magistrates Courts Kadhi Courts Courts Martial Tribunals Judicial Service Commission
Administrative divisions Counties Sub-Counties Constituencies
Commissions Offices Electoral and Boundaries Ethics and Anti-Corruption National Human Rights and Equality National Commission on Human Rights Administrative Justice National Land Commission Revenue Allocation Salaries and Remuneration Service Commissions Judicial National Police Parliamentary Public Teachers Offices Auditor-General Controller of Budget
Recent elections General: 2013 2017 2022 Presidential: 2017 (Oct) 2022 Local: 2007 2013 2017
Political parties The National Alliance United Republican Party Orange Democratic Movement Wiper Democratic Movement Party of National Unity Kenya African National Union Kenya National Congress
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Monica Juma Diplomatic missions of / in Kenya Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Economic schemes Vision 2030 Kenya Economic Stimulus Program
Kenya portal Other countries
v t e

The Attorney General of Kenya is the head of the Kenyan State Law Office, the principal legal adviser to the government of Kenya, and a member of the Cabinet. Justin Muturi, the current attorney general, was nominated by President William Ruto in October 2022.^[1] His nomination was approved by the National Assembly on 26 October 2022, after the requisite vetting process.

History

The Office of the Attorney General draws its mandate from Article 156 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, which vests in the Attorney General the responsibility of being the principal legal adviser to the government to ensure that the rule of law is promoted, protected and upheld, and defend the public interest. The Office of the Attorney General Act No. 49 of 2012 spells out the functions of the office, which include:

Duties

The attorney general's duties^[2] include the formulation of legal policy and ensuring proper administration of Kenya's legal system, including professional legal education. Assisting the Attorney General in the performance of his duties as principal legal adviser to the government are:

• Solicitor General
• Senior Deputy Solicitor General
• Director of Public Prosecutions
• Registrar General
• Administrator General
• Chairman of Advocates Complaints Commission
• Chief Parliamentary Counsel
• Chief State Counsel

Attorneys General of East Africa Protectorate (1895–1920)

• Alfred Karney Young (1906–1909)
• Ralph Molyneux Combe (1912–1914)
• Sir Jacob William Barth (1914–1918)^[3]
• Ivan Llewelyn Owen Gower (1918, acting)
• Robert William Lyall-Grant (1918–1920)^[4]

Attorneys General of British Kenya (1920–1963)

• Robert William Lyall-Grant (1920–1925)^[4]
• Ivan Llewelyn Owen Gower (1925–1926) (acting)
• Sir Walter Huggard (1926–1929)
• Sir Alisdair Duncan Atholl MacGregor (1929–1934)
• Walter Harragin (1933–1941)^[5]
• Sir Stafford W.P. Foster Sutton (1944–1948)^[6]
• Sir Kenneth O'Connor (1948– )^[7]
• John Whyatt (1951–1955)^[8]
• Sir Eric Newton Griffiths-Jones (1955– )^[9]
• Diarmaid William Conroy ( –1960) (acting)
• Sir Eric Newton Griffiths-Jones (1960–1963)^[10]

Attorneys General of Kenya (since 1963)

• Charles Mugane Njonjo (1963–1979)^[11]
• James B. Karugu (1980–1981)^[11]
• Joseph Kamere (1981–1983)^[11]
• Matthew Guy Muli (1983–1991)^[11]
• Amos Wako (1991–2011)^[11]
• Githu Muigai (2011–2018)^[11]
• Paul Kihara Kariuki (2018–2022)
• Justin Muturi (2022–present)