Supreme Court Judge Ibrahim Mohammed is dead.
His death was announced by the Judiciary, stating that Mohammed passed away on Wednesday, December 17, at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, after a long battle with illness.
“On behalf of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court of Kenya, the Judicial Service Commission, and on my own behalf, I convey, with profound sorrow, the news of the passing on of Hon. (Mr.) Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim, Judge of the Supreme Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC),” Chief Justice Martha Koome said while confirming the news.
“We extend our deepest to his colleagues, and the entire Judiciary and JSC during this moment of immense loss,” she added.
Mohammed had a rich career in the Kenya’s legal sector. He studied law at the University of Nairobi and made history by becoming the first person from the Kenyan-Somali community to be admitted to the Bar.
He served in the Judiciary for 23 years, during which he held several key positions across different courts. At the time of passing, he served as the Supreme Court representative to the Judicial Service Commission, a position he had held since May 2022.
He was widely regarded for his role in institutional reform, jurisprudential leadership and his contribution to advancing access to justice in Kenya.
Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim served as a judge of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, where he handled complex constitutional, commercial and human rights matters.
He also served as the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee on Elections, following his appointment in August 2021.
He was set to retire on January 1, 2026, upon reaching the mandatory constitutional retirement age of 70.
Battle with illness
Justice Ibrahim has been in and out of the hospital but the nature of the illness remains unclear as his family chose to keep it private.
He was reportedly receiving specialised treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in India before returning to Kenya.
Also Read: SA deports Kenyans processing white South Africans’ refugee applications for US
