Kenyans and leaders have continued to send their tributes after the legal fraternity was thrown into mourning on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, following the death of Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim.
Justice Mohamed Ibrahim passed away shortly after 4.30 pm.
Sources close to the family said Justice Ibrahim had been receiving treatment in an Intensive Care Unit in India, but doctors advised that he be returned home to Kenya for his final days.
His death marks the end of a distinguished judicial career and a profound loss to Kenya’s justice system.
Chief Justice Martha Koome mourned him as a jurist of exceptional humility and integrity, saying he will be remembered as a steadfast guardian of constitutionalism, electoral justice, and human dignity.
“The Judiciary, the Supreme Court and the JSC mourn the loss of a distinguished jurist whose legacy bridges courageous advocacy and principled judging, and whose life exemplified fidelity to his oath of office, service to country, and compassion for the voiceless,” CJ Koome said.
“We stand in solidarity with his family, friends, and the entire Judiciary community during this difficult period of mourning, and we call for sensitivity and compassion as we share in this collective grief.”
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has mourned Justice Ibrahim as one of the inaugural judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya, with a highly decorated career in the legal industry spanning over 34 years.
According to Wetang’ula, Justice Mohamed Ibrahim will be remembered for his active role in bringing social justice and fighting for minority groups to have equal rights, and he often offered pro bono services
“I am saddened to learn of the demise of Hon. Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya, after a long illness. Hon. Ibrahim was one of the inaugural judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya with a highly decorated career in the legal industry spanning over 34 years. He will be remembered for his active role in bringing social justice and fighting for minority groups to have equal rights, and often offered pro bono services. His loss is a monumental one for the legal industry and the Judiciary at large. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” Wetang’ula stated.
Nairobi County Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has also mourned Justice Ibrahim.
“My thoughts are with the family of the Honorable Justice Mohammed Ibrahim. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun,” Sifuna wrote on X.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, in her message of condolence, said that Justice Ibrahim’s rare calmness spoke of a man who fully understood the role of judicial authority as an opportunity to serve, and the nuances of justice as a tool for maintaining social order.
“I have received the sad news of the passing on of Hon. Mr. Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, SCJ. Justice Ibrahim served in the bench with unparalleled grace and distinguished intellect. His rare calmness spoke of a man who fully understood the role of judicial authority as an opportunity to serve, and the nuances of justice as a tool for maintaining social order. His passing on is a big loss to the Supreme Court, the Judiciary, and to the administration of Justice in Kenya,” Faith Odhiambo stated.
“Justice Ibrahim was a towering source of inspiration to all who dared to dream. He was the first person from the Kenyan-Somali community to be admitted to the Bar, at a time when his community was among the most marginalised in Kenyan society. He dedicated much of his early career to the defence of human rights and promoting the ideals of a fair and equal society. He carried his record of excellence and ethical conduct throughout his near-decade-long tenure as a Judge of the High Court.”
Justice Mohamed Ibrahim’s Biography: Life, Education and Career
Justice Ibrahim was appointed to the Supreme Court of Kenya on June 16, 2011, becoming one of the court’s founding judges following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
From the outset, he played a central role in shaping the jurisprudence, institutional culture, and public-facing mandate of the country’s apex court during a formative period for constitutional democracy.
Within the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim held extensive administrative and governance responsibilities.
He served as Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee on Elections, a role that placed him at the heart of judicial preparedness and oversight during electoral cycles, an especially sensitive and consequential area in Kenya’s constitutional order.
He also oversaw the establishment of the Court’s ad hoc Committee on Elections, strengthening internal coordination and accountability.
His portfolio further included liaison with internal judicial stakeholders such as the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA), the Kenya Women Judges Association (KWJA), and the Judiciary Staff Association.
Through this work, he was instrumental in fostering cohesion across the Judiciary and amplifying institutional dialogue on judicial welfare, independence, and professional standards.
Justice Ibrahim also coordinated the Supreme Court’s engagement with non-state actors, with particular reference to civil society and marginalised groups.
This role reflected a broader commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and public confidence in the administration of justice.
He additionally oversaw Supreme Court publications, annual reports, and library management, ensuring that the Court’s work was documented, accessible, and grounded in robust legal scholarship.
As part of the Court’s leadership team, he contributed to the development, monitoring, and evaluation of the Supreme Court Strategic Plan, embedding feedback mechanisms to strengthen institutional performance and responsiveness.
He also served as the critical link between the Supreme Court and the Judiciary Committee on Elections, reinforcing coordination across judicial structures.
Justice Mohammed Ibrahim will be remembered as a jurist who combined administrative rigour with a quiet commitment to inclusion and institutional integrity.
His legacy endures in the structures he helped build, the standards he upheld, and the communities that saw in him both representation and service at the highest level of justice.
Justice Mohammed Ibrahim studied law at the University of Nairobi before entering private legal practice.
In November 1982, he joined the firm of Messrs Waruhiu & Muite Advocates and was admitted to the Roll of Advocates on January 11, 1983, becoming the first Kenyan Somali to be admitted to the Bar as an advocate.
He rose through the firm to become a salaried partner in 1985 and a full partner in 1987. In 1994, he established Mohammed Ibrahim & Associates, which later expanded into Ibrahim & Isaack Advocates in 1997.
The firm litigated civil and constitutional cases and specialised in banking, company law, bankruptcy, commercial law, property law, conveyancing, and insurance law.
During private practice, he was active in defending minority rights, particularly those of the Somali community.
He challenged the government’s use of “pink cards,” secondary identity documents that required additional citizenship verification and were seen as discriminatory against Kenyan Somalis.
Justice Ibrahim was appointed a Judge of the High Court on May 22, 2003. He served in the Civil and Commercial Divisions at Milimani, Nairobi, before joining the Judicial Review and Constitutional Division in 2004.
He was later transferred to Eldoret, where he served as Resident Judge between 2007 and 2009, handling matters across the North Rift Valley and occasionally assisting the High Court in Kisii.
In July 2009, he was transferred to the High Court in Mombasa as Resident Judge before his elevation to the Supreme Court of Kenya.
