Kenya’s electoral history is one that has been marked by both triumphs and turbulence. While the country has made significant strides in entrenching democratic governance, its elections have often been overshadowed by disputes, questions of credibility, and at times, post-election instability. As the nation looks towards the 2027 General Elections, it is imperative that every tool available to strengthen transparency and integrity be deployed. Among these tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a frontier technology with immense potential to address the perennial challenges that have afflicted our electoral processes.
Eric Karuti represents clients in wide-ranging dispute resolution work. He handles complex litigation and arbitration proceedings in the fields of financial services, employment, legislative drafting, public interest litigation and insurance law.
Eric has represented various public bodies, devolved governments, government agencies, private companies and individual clients in various courts and tribunals.
He also offers policy and legal advisories to financial institutions, in addition to safeguarding their interests in proceedings lodged before various courts and tribunals.
Eric has also participated as both lead and assisting counsel in proceedings leading to landmark decisions, including decisions emanating from the Supreme Court.
Experience has included advising:
- An Electronic Payment Service provider in complex arbitration proceedings involving among other issues, breach of a Revenue Collection Agreement
- A notable financial institution in a complex multi-million shilling dispute, involving an application for injunctive reliefs, wherein the institution had sought to exercise its Statutory Power of Sale over numerous housing block units situated in an upcoming prime market area
- Numerous debt recovery proceedings on behalf of various financial institutions, such as proceedings involving Banks’ exercise of the Statutory Power of Sale
- A county government in a claim lodged at the Employment and Labour Relations Court involving an employee’s fraudulent reinstatement to payroll
Professional Qualifications
- Advocate admitted to the High Court of Kenya (2016)
Education
- University of Nairobi, LLM Masters of Laws, (On-going)
- Kenya School of Law, Diploma in Law (2014 - 2015)
- Catholic University of Eastern Africa (2010-2013)
Prior Experience (Optional)
- 2023 to date, Senior Associate, IKM Advocates, DLA Piper Africa in Kenya.
- 2020 to 2023, Associate, IKM Advocates, DLA Piper Africa in Kenya.
- 2018 to 2020, Associate, Nairobi-based law firm.
- 2016 to 2017, Associate, Nairobi-based law firm.
- 2016 to 2016, Intern, German-based Non-Governmental Organization.
- 2015 to 2016, Legal Assistant, Nairobi-based law firm.
Memberships (Optional)
- Member of the Law Society of Kenya
- Member of the East Africa Law Society
- Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
The enactment of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025 represents a fundamental shift in Kenya’s legal and ethical architecture. Assented to on 30 July 2025 and brought into force on 19 August 2025, the Act repeals the Public Officer Ethics Act and establishes a consolidated statutory framework to regulate and manage conflicts of interest within the public sector. While the Act is directed primarily at public officers, its implications for legal practitioners are significant, given the frequency with which advocates interact with public institutions and officers in the discharge of their professional duties.
At the heart of the right to access justice is the right to legal representation. The lawyers’ role in the legal process therefore cannot be understated. Lawyers deserve to be compensated for their work because the practice of law is a career just like any other. However, Wanjiku should have the comfort of knowing that she can access justice and hire lawyers just as easily as anyone else. There is therefore need to maintain a delicate balance between these competing interests; the right to access to justice and fair remuneration of lawyers.
IKM has successfully defended Kenya Airports Authority in a landmark case at the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal in assessing the instruction fees due to an advocate.
Detention of patients by hospitals over unpaid hospital bills has become a very common phenomenon. Hospitals justify this practice on the basis that once they release patients it is impossible to follow up the unpaid bills. This phenomenon is a true depiction of the sad effects of ever-escalating cost of medical services combined with the dwindling financial fortunes of the average Kenyan. Lack of a national medical health insurance scheme has ensured that the situation remains unchanged.