Former Supreme Court judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed,
will be laid to rest today, December 18, 2025.
A statement issued by the Judiciary said the funeral will
be held at Kariakor Muslim cemetery.
“The funeral rites will begin at 1.40pm,” the statement
said.
Justice Ibrahim passed away on Wednesday evening, at
4:30pm, in Nairobi.
Sources close to the family said the he had been taken to India for
treatment, but doctors advised that he be returned home to Kenya for his last
days.
The judge was due to proceed on terminal leave ahead of his mandatory
retirement on January 1, 2026.
He leaves behind a wife and four children.
News of his death prompted tributes from across the country’s public
institutions.
President William Ruto described him as “a steadfast defender of
constitutional order.”
“He blazed a historic trail as the first member of
his community to be admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,
breaking barriers and inspiring generations to pursue justice, public service and
equality under the law,” he said.
Chief Justice Martha Koome called him “a jurist of humility, intellect and
unwavering commitment to justice.”
Koome described him as a distinguished jurist whose legacy bridged
courageous advocacy and principled judging, and whose life exemplified service
to country.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga praised him as a colleague whose quiet
courage and conviction strengthened Kenya’s judiciary during turbulent
political seasons.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), led by President Faith Odhiambo, described
Justice Ibrahim as "a towering source of inspiration to all who dared to
dream."
Odhiambo said he served on the bench with unparalleled grace and intellect,
and his rare calmness reflected a man who fully understood the role of judicial
authority.
"Justice Ibrahim stood out as an independent, astute voice of reason.
His sound contributions to Kenya's jurisprudence portrayed great wealth of
knowledge, depth of character, and dedication to advancing the law. He will be
dearly missed by all who experienced him," she said.
Justice Ibrahim was a distinguished legal mind whose career spanned over
four decades.
Before joining the Bench in June 2011, 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.
Justice Ibrahim stood firmly with pro-democracy activists during the late
1980s and early 1990s. He joined the Judiciary in 2003 as a High Court judge.
In 2022, he was elected as the Supreme Court representative on the Judicial
Service Commission (JSC).
