By Andrew Kariuki

Justice Mohamed Abdullahi Warsame has been nominated for appointment to the Supreme Court, marking a significant milestone in his judicial career and positioning him for elevation to Kenya’s apex court.

The nomination follows a vacancy that arose after the death of Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim in December 2025, prompting the Judicial Service Commission to initiate a competitive recruitment process that included public interviews of shortlisted candidates.

Justice Warsame currently serves as a Judge of the Court of Appeal, a position he has held since 2012 following his appointment from the High Court in 2003.

During his time at the High Court, he served in the Commercial, Criminal and Judicial Review divisions, handling a broad range of matters while building a reputation for efficiency in case disposal.

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. Before joining the bench, he practiced as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, laying a strong foundation in legal practice.

Beyond his judicial duties, Justice Warsame has also played a role in criminal justice reform. As Chair of the Community Service and Probation Committee, he oversaw the release of more than 7,000 petty offenders through non-custodial sentencing programmes aimed at easing prison congestion.

In 2013, he was elected by his colleagues at the Court of Appeal to represent them at the Judicial Service Commission under Article 171(2)(c) of the Constitution, where he served in both the Finance and Administration Committee and the Human Resource Committee.

Speaking during his interview, Justice Warsame indicated that he may consider public service in elective politics after retirement if called upon by his constituents, while maintaining that such considerations would not affect his independence on the bench.

He also noted that he has served under four Chief Justices without conflict, attributing this to his experience in collegial courts and his ability to work effectively within multi-judge benches such as the Supreme Court. He added that he brings jurisprudential leadership, institutional experience and a broad judicial perspective to the role.

His nomination will now be forwarded to President William Ruto for formal appointment in accordance with Article 166(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.