Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame was Wednesday nominated for appointment to the Supreme Court, marking a significant step in his judicial career and positioning him for elevation to the country’s apex court.
The nomination follows a vacancy that arose in the Supreme Court after the exit of the passing of Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim in December 2025, creating an opening that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) moved to fill through a competitive recruitment process that included interviews of shortlisted candidates.
JSC Chairperson Chief Justice Martha Koome announced on Wednesday, saying that Warsame emerged as the best candidate following the competitive interview process conducted between Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I am pleased to inform the public that the Judicial Service Commission has today concluded the recruitment and selection process for the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya and, upon deliberations, has arrived at a nomination,” said Koome.
“I am therefore pleased to announce that the Judicial Service Commission has nominated Hon. Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame for appointment to the Supreme Court of Kenya.”
Justice Warsame was part of the six judges who applied for the position, where only five of them were shortlisted.
The vacant position of Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya was occasioned by the death of Justice Mohamed Ibrahim in December last year.
Supreme Court Judge Ibrahim Mohammed passed away on December 17, 2025, following a short illness, just days before he was to proceed on terminal leave ahead of his mandatory retirement on January 1, 2026.
The JSC had advertised the position on January 27, with the application window closing on February 17, 2026.
The six applicants were: Justices Joseph Kiplagat Sergon, Warsame Abdulahi Mohammed, Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, and Francis Kipruto Tuiyott.
Koome underscored that the recruitment process was conducted in compliance with the Constitution and the Judicial Service Act and guided by merit, integrity, fairness, inclusivity and regional balance.
“The Commission is fully satisfied that Justice Warsame demonstrated the qualities that the Constitution demands of a Judge of the Supreme Court — professional competence, unimpeachable integrity, fairness, sound judgment, a genuine and demonstrable commitment to the rule of law and public service,” she said.
Following the nomination, Koome said Warsame’s name has been forwarded to President William Ruto for formal appointment in line with Article 166(1)(a) of the Constitution.
She also announced that beginning July 1, 2026, the Judiciary will start publishing individual performance data for judges and judicial officers, a move she says is aimed at enhancing accountability, reducing case backlog and improving access to justice.
“To this end, the Judicial Service Commission has resolved that effective 1st July 2026 the Judiciary shall commence the publication of individual performance data for Judges and Judicial officers in a structured and transparent framework,” she said.
Justice Warsame currently serves as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya, a position he has held since 2012 after his elevation from the High Court, where he had been appointed in 2003.
He served in multiple divisions of the High Court, including the Commercial, Criminal and Judicial Review divisions, gaining experience in a wide range of legal matters while also recording a notable rate of case clearance.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nairobi and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, and prior to joining the Bench, he practiced as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, building his foundation in legal practice before transitioning into judicial service.
Beyond his adjudicatory roles, Justice Warsame has also served as Chairman of the Community Service and Probation Committee, where he oversaw the release of more than 7,000 petty offenders from prisons across the country as part of efforts to promote non-custodial sentences and decongest correctional facilities.
In 2013, he was elected by his colleagues at the Court of Appeal to represent them at the JSC under Article 171(2)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya, where he served in both the Finance and Administration Committee and the Human Resource Committee, contributing to policy and administrative oversight within the Judiciary.
Speaking during his interview for the Supreme Court position on Wednesday, Justice Warsame stated that he may consider running for the Mandera gubernatorial seat after retiring from the Judiciary if called upon by his constituents, while maintaining that such political aspirations would not in any way interfere with his judicial independence or current responsibilities.
He further noted that he has served under four Chief Justices without any conflict, attributing this to his experience in collegial courts which, he said, enables him to effectively work within multi-judge benches such as the Supreme Court, and added that he brings jurisprudential leadership, institutional leadership and perspective to the role.
His nomination will now be transmitted to President William Ruto for formal appointment in accordance with Article 166(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
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