Legal Fraternity Mourns the Passing of Court of Appeal Judge Fred Ochieng

The legal community in Kenya is in mourning following the death of Court of Appeal Judge Justice Fred Ochieng. Chief Justice Martha Koome confirmed his passing on Wednesday, September 17, describing him as a brilliant legal mind who dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice.

In her statement, the Chief Justice paid a glowing tribute to Justice Ochieng, noting his immense contribution to the growth of Kenya’s legal system. She praised him for his expertise in various areas of law, including commercial law and mediation, even before he joined the Judiciary in 2003.

According to Justice Koome, his work greatly shaped Kenya’s commercial law jurisprudence and strengthened the adoption of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

“He will always be remembered as a towering figure in the development of commercial law in Kenya and as a strong advocate for promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution,” Koome said.

At the time of his passing, Justice Ochieng was serving as the Chairperson of the Court Annexed Mediation Taskforce. In that role, he spearheaded the national rollout of court-annexed mediation, a system designed to ease case backlogs and promote faster, amicable settlement of disputes.

Prominent members of the legal fraternity have also expressed their sorrow over his death. Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi shared his memories of Justice Ochieng, describing him as a fair, humorous, and decisive judge.

Havi recalled arguing many cases before him, sometimes winning and other times losing, but noted that Justice Ochieng’s rulings were so thorough and well reasoned that no one felt the need to appeal.

“A jovial, comical, yet deliberate and decisive Judge he was. I won and lost many cases before Justice Fred Ochieng, but never appealed or defended any appeal against his decisions,” Havi said. “Everyone was satisfied with his judgments. A good Judge has signed and delivered his final decision. There is no right of appeal.”

Justice Ochieng’s career in the Judiciary began in 2003 when he was appointed as a High Court Judge. Over the years, he served in different stations, including Kitale, Kakamega, and Kisumu, as well as in specialized divisions such as Civil, Criminal, Commercial, and Admiralty.

His wealth of experience and consistency in delivering sound judgments earned him respect from both colleagues and litigants. In 2022, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal, where he continued to serve until his passing.

Before joining the bench, Justice Ochieng had built a reputation as a seasoned advocate of the High Court of Kenya, where he practiced law for many years. His long-standing commitment to the legal profession and his dedication to fairness left an indelible mark on Kenya’s judicial system.

The cause of his death has not yet been disclosed by the time of this publication. However, his legacy as a fair, sharp, and approachable judge remains etched in the hearts of many within the legal community and beyond.

His passing is not only a big loss to the Judiciary but also to the country, which greatly benefited from his wisdom and service.

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