The legal community in Kenya is mourning the death of Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Fredrick Ochieng, whose passing was confirmed by Chief Justice Martha Koome on Wednesday, September 17.
In her statement, CJ Koome described Justice Ochieng as one of the brightest legal minds in the country.
She praised him for his deep knowledge of law, his dedication to fairness, and his role in shaping Kenya’s justice system. She noted that long before he joined the Judiciary in 2003, he was already well-known in legal circles for his expertise in commercial law and mediation.
According to Koome, Justice Ochieng will be remembered not only as a leading figure in the development of commercial law but also as a strong supporter of alternative dispute resolution methods.
Until his death, he was serving as the Chairperson of the Court Annexed Mediation Taskforce, where he was leading efforts to expand mediation as a way of solving disputes without long court battles.
Many lawyers and legal leaders have shared their tributes. Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi described Justice Ochieng as a fair and balanced judge.
Havi said he appeared before him in several cases—some he won, others he lost—but he always left the courtroom satisfied with the judge’s decision. He added that Justice Ochieng’s humor and cheerful personality never took away from his seriousness when it came to handling cases.
Justice Ochieng joined the Judiciary as a High Court judge in 2003. He worked in different stations including Kitale, Kakamega, and Kisumu, and also served in the Civil, Criminal, and Commercial Divisions.
In 2022, he was promoted to the Court of Appeal. Before joining the bench, he practiced law as an advocate of the High Court for many years.
Details about the cause of his death have not yet been released. His passing has left a big gap in the Judiciary and among those who worked closely with him.
