Kenya’s judiciary is mourning the death of Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim. He passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, after a long illness. The news came out in the evening, and officials confirmed it quickly.
Justice Ibrahim was 69 years old. He had been set to start terminal leave soon, ahead of his full retirement on January 1, 2026. That would have marked the end of a long career on the bench.
He joined the Supreme Court back in June 2011, as one of the first judges when the court was set up under Kenya’s new constitution. Before that, he served in the High Court and Court of Appeal. People knew him for handling tough cases in constitutional law, commercial disputes, and human rights.
His time in the judiciary lasted about 23 years. Colleagues remember him for staying calm under pressure and thinking deeply about the law. He often spoke up independently in big decisions.
One thing that stood out was his work for minority rights. Justice Ibrahim was the first lawyer from Kenya’s Somali community to join the bar in 1983. He fought against discrimination, like the old “pink card” system that made it harder for Somalis to prove citizenship.
Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo called him a “towering source of inspiration”. She said his calmness showed he saw judging as a way to serve people. His death, she added, is a big loss for the courts and justice in the country.
Chief Justice Martha Koome was expected to put out a full statement later that day. Tributes started coming in from lawyers and others in the legal world.
Justice Ibrahim sat on panels for some of Kenya’s biggest cases. That included election petitions in 2013 and 2022. He also chaired the judiciary’s committee on elections for a while.
He started his career in private practice after law school at the University of Nairobi. He worked at firms handling banking and property cases. Later, he set up his own office.
In the High Court, he served in places like Eldoret and Mombasa as resident judge. He dealt with matters across regions.
This information comes as a shock to many in the legal community. He had been receiving treatment recently, including time in India before coming back home.
Funeral plans were not out yet. The family and judiciary will likely share those soon.
Losing a sitting Supreme Court judge is rare. It leaves a gap in the top court, which has seven members, including the chief justice.
People who worked with him say he brought grace to tough debates. He focused on making justice reachable for everyone.
The judiciary has lost one of its steady hands. Many will remember his push for fairness and reform over the years. This story is still fresh. More details might come as tributes continue.
