Supreme Court judge Ibrahim Mohammed is dead
By Faith Lagat, December 17, 2025Supreme Court Justice Mohammed Ibrahim has died after a long illness, the Judiciary has confirmed.
Justice Ibrahim, a founding member of Kenya’s Supreme Court, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, marking the end of a distinguished judicial career spanning more than two decades.
Justice Ibrahim was appointed to the inaugural Supreme Court bench on June 16, 2011. He served until his death and was widely respected for his calm demeanour, intellectual depth, and independent reasoning in some of the country’s most consequential cases.
Tributes from the legal community
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) led tributes, describing Justice Ibrahim as a jurist of rare grace and integrity. In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo took to her X;
“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.”
She added that his passing on is a big loss to the Supreme Court, the Judiciary, and to the administration of Justice in Kenya.
Odhiambo further highlighted his trailblazing role within the legal profession. “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.”
She noted that his early career was devoted to human rights advocacy and the promotion of equality and fairness.
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