Kenya’s legal community gathers today to bid farewell to former Supreme Court judge Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, who will be laid to rest in Nairobi.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Judiciary said funeral prayers will be held at the Kariakor Muslim cemetery. The rites are scheduled to begin at 1.40pm.

Justice Ibrahim died on Wednesday evening at around 4.30pm in Nairobi. He was 73.

Family sources said he had recently travelled to India for specialised treatment. Doctors later advised that he return home, where he spent his final days.

He was due to proceed on terminal leave ahead of his mandatory retirement on January 1, 2026. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Tributes from across the country

News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from state leaders and the legal profession.

President William Ruto described Justice Ibrahim 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,” the President said. “In doing so, he broke barriers and inspired generations to pursue justice, public service and equality under the law.”

Chief Justice Martha Koome remembered him as “a jurist of humility, intellect and unwavering commitment to justice”.

She said his career reflected a rare balance between courageous advocacy and principled judging, adding that his life was marked by service to the country.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga praised Justice Ibrahim as a colleague whose calm resolve helped steady the Judiciary during difficult political moments.

The Law Society of Kenya also paid tribute. Its president, Faith Odhiambo, called him “a towering source of inspiration to all who dared to dream”.

“Justice Ibrahim stood out as an independent, astute voice of reason,” she said. “His contributions to Kenya’s jurisprudence showed depth of character and a lifelong commitment to advancing the law.”

A life of firsts and public service

Justice Ibrahim’s legal career spanned more than four decades. Admitted to the Bar in 1982, he became the first member of the Kenyan Somali community to qualify as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Before joining the Bench, he built a reputation as a human rights lawyer and public-interest advocate. He worked with organisations such as Kituo cha Sheria and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, and was a founding trustee of the Mwangaza Trust.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he stood alongside pro-democracy activists at a time when civic space was under strain.

He joined the Judiciary in 2003 as a High Court judge and was appointed to the Supreme Court in June 2011. In 2022, he was elected by his peers as the Supreme Court representative to the Judicial Service Commission.

As colleagues and family gather today, many say his legacy lies not only in the judgments he wrote, but in the doors he opened and the calm authority he brought to public life.