Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim has passed on
Supreme Court Judge Ibrahim Mohammed is dead.
Sources close to the family say Mohammed had been taken to India for treatment, but doctors advised that he be returned home to Kenya for his last days.
Before joining the Bench, Justice Ibrahim had already distinguished himself as a trailblazing advocate, human rights defender, and public-spirited lawyer.
Admitted to the Bar in 1982, he was the first member of the Kenyan Somali community to be admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
He practised law with notable firms before establishing his own practice and was deeply engaged in public interest litigation and civic advocacy during some of Kenya’s most challenging political periods.
His work with organisations such as Kituo cha Sheria, the Lawyers Committeе for Human Rights, and as a founding trusteе of the Mwangaza Trust, reflected a lifelong commitment to access to justice, inclusion, and the defence of fundamental rights.
During Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Justice Ibrahim stood firmly with pro-democracy forces, offering legal support to activists and marginalised communities.
His principled advocacy led to his detention without trial, an experience that profoundly shaped his lifelong devotion to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the protection of human dignity.
He also served as a Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya, contributing to the strengthening of the legal profession and ethical practice. Justice Ibrahim joined the Judiciary in 2003 as a Judge of the High Court of Kenya, where he served with distinction in various stations.
In 2011, he was elevated to the Supreme Court as a member of the inaugural bench, entrusted with the historic responsibility of giving meaning and effect to Kenya’s transformative 2010 Constitution.
His judicial career was marked by intellectual rigour, calm impartiality, and a deep concern for the vulnerable and marginalised.
In addition to his judicial responsibilities, Hon. Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim was unanimously elected in 2022 by the Justices of the Supreme Court to serve as the Court’s representative to the Judicial Service Commission.
He served with distinction as a Commissioner of the JSC, where he brought to bear his deep commitment to judicial independence and accountability. In that role, he was a steady and thoughtful voice in matters relating to judicial governance, appointments, discipline, and the overall strengthening of the Judiciary as an institution.
He firmly believed that judicial independence and accountability are complementary, not competing values, and consistently championed transparency, integrity, and fidelity to constitutional norms.
His contribution to the work of the Commission helped reinforce public confidence in the Judiciary and safeguard its constitutional mandate during periods of intense public and political scrutiny. A jurist of exceptional humility and integrity, Justice Ibrahim will be remembered as a steadfast guardian of constitutionalism, electoral justice, and human dignity.
He served as Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee on Elections, and earlier as Chairperson of the ad hoc Judiciary Working Committee on Election Preparations, roles through which he significantly strengthened institutional preparedness and public confidence in the adjudication of electoral disputes.
He was a collegial judge, a quiet mentor, and a firm believer in principles over prominence.
