In a moment of profound national sorrow, President William Ruto on behalf of Kenyans extended deepest condolences to Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire legal fraternity.
This was after he passed on Wednesday evening at the Agha Khan Hospital.
“May they find comfort in his enduring legacy and in the profound impact of a life devoted to justice and the rule of law.
We will remember Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim as a principled jurist, a passionate defender of human rights, and a steadfast champion of multi-party democracy,” Ruto stated.
“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
The Chief Justice Martha Koome described him as a jurist of exceptional humility and integrity, a guardian of constitutionalism, electoral justice, and human dignity who left a deep imprint on Kenya’s democracy.
CJ Koome further noted that his role as a steady voice in judicial governance and his firm belief that judicial independence and accountability are complementary values
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, led tributes to the late Hon. Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim, a towering figure in Kenya’s judiciary whose sudden departure has left an irreplaceable void.
“With a profound sense of loss, I have learned of the passing of Hon. Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya and a Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC),” Murkomen solemnly declared.
His words echo the grief sweeping across the nation for a jurist whose life was a masterpiece of dedication and principle. Justice Ibrahim, who passed away on December 17, 2025, at the age of 69 after a prolonged illness, lived a legacy that demands celebration even amid tears.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, in company of former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi among other leaders who attended attended the funeral described Ibrahim as a man of integrity who served the nation with justice and equality.
“When I was CJ I joined him in the Supreme Court. He was one of those judges who were diligent in their work. We have lost one of the most brilliant minds in this country,” Maraga said.
“Among the most outstanding things about his is his commitment to values of dignity and human rights. Among the tribulations always faced the JSC he always remained the voice of reason,” Muturi said on his part.
Mohammed had a distinguished 23-year judicial career marked by institutional reform, jurisprudential leadership, and a legacy of advancing access to justice
Born on January 1, 1956, he blazed trails as the first Kenyan Somali admitted to the Bar in 1983, shattering barriers during an era of marginalization.
From private practice—founding his own firm and specializing in constitutional and human rights litigation, to his elevation as one of the inaugural Supreme Court judges in 2011, his career spanned over four decades of unwavering service.
A fierce advocate for human rights and multi-party democracy, Justice Ibrahim endured detention in the 1990s for challenging discriminatory policies against Kenyan Somalis. Yet, his response was not bitterness, but boundless selflessness, hard work, and integrity; qualities that defined him on and off the bench.
Peers remember his rare calmness, a quiet strength that masked an unyielding commitment to social justice, constitutionalism, and the protection of the marginalized.
CS Murkomen acknowledges that His indelible mark on Kenya’s jurisprudence shines brightest in his role as Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee on Elections.
Through landmark opinions on presidential electoral disputes and profound constitutional interpretations, he fortified the foundations of our democracy, ensuring his wisdom will guide generations long after his departure.
As CS Murkomen extended deepest sympathies to Justice Ibrahim’s family, friends, colleagues in the Judiciary, and the legal fraternity, the nation joins in this immense grief.
Ibrahim was laid to rest at Kariokor Muslim Cemetery in Nairobi, this pioneer whose light illuminated the Supreme Court’s hallowed halls, leaves behind a fairer Kenya.
Fare thee well, Hon. Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim. Your legacy of honor endures eternally. Rest in perfect peace.
