NAIROBI, Kenya — Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has won a major legal reprieve after the Supreme Court lifted a two-year restriction that barred him from appearing before Kenya’s highest court.
In a ruling delivered by Chief Justice Martha Koome, the court allowed Ahmednasir, his law firm, and advocates acting on his instructions to resume practice before the Supreme Court, effectively ending a sanction imposed in January 2024.
The decision follows an application by Ahmednasir’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite and Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, seeking to vacate a suo motu order issued by the court over remarks previously deemed offensive to the dignity and authority of the apex court.
At the time of the original order, six Supreme Court judges — excluding Chief Justice Koome — recused themselves from hearing matters involving Ahmednasir, citing concerns about the comments and their impact on the integrity of the judiciary.
In their submissions, Muite and Ngatia told the court that the two-year period had served its corrective purpose.
They argued that the senior counsel had reflected on his conduct and committed to engaging with court processes with respect and professionalism going forward.
During the hearing, counsel Mosota, appearing for Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates, said the lessons from the sanction had been internalised, adding that relations between the bench and the bar should be custodial rather than adversarial, with both sides working to safeguard the rule of law.
The Supreme Court agreed, noting the passage of time and the assurances given by Ahmednasir and his legal team. The judges ruled that he may now appear before the court in ongoing and future matters.
However, the court clarified that the 2024 order would remain in force only in relation to proceedings that were concluded under that directive.
In her remarks, Chief Justice Koome said the original sanction was necessary to protect the authority and dignity of the Supreme Court, but acknowledged that sufficient time had passed for introspection and professional reform.
“This ruling restores the right of Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi to appear before the Supreme Court, reinforcing the principle that while the Court protects its authority, it also allows for rehabilitation and professional reflection,” the judgment stated.
The decision marks a high-profile return to the Supreme Court bar for one of Kenya’s most prominent and outspoken lawyers, ending a period of professional restriction that drew national attention within legal and political circles.
