Court of Appeal judge Fredrick Ochieng’ has died. He is remembered as a fair-minded jurist, mediator, and Kenya’s legal fraternity is mourning the death of Justice Fredrick Ochieng’ Andago, a Court of Appeal judge widely respected for his fairness, humility and commitment to reform.
Justice Ochieng’, who until his passing served at the Nakuru Law Courts, built a career defined by efforts to expand access to justice and to promote mediation as an alternative to drawn-out litigation.
Chief Justice Martha Koome led tributes, describing him as “a dedicated jurist whose passion for justice and reform leaves a mark on the Judiciary and the nation.”
Born and educated in Kenya, Ochieng’ studied law at the University of Nairobi before joining the Kenya School of Law for his postgraduate diploma. He was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1983 and began his career at Kaplan & Stratton Advocates, where he rose from legal assistant to partner.
In 2003, he was appointed to the High Court, presiding over divisions in Nairobi and stations in Kitale, Kakamega and Kisumu. He later became presiding judge of Kisumu before rising to the Court of Appeal.
Beyond the courtroom, Ochieng’ was a certified mediator and a pioneer of Kenya’s Court Annexed Mediation programme, first piloted in 2016. As chair of the Judiciary’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Taskforce, he helped lay the foundations for a system now recognised nationally.
His influence extended beyond Kenya’s borders. He was elected president of both the East African Magistrates and Judges Association and the Kenya Judges and Magistrates Association, roles that underscored his standing among peers in the region.
Colleagues recall a judge deeply committed to efficiency and fairness. “He believed justice delayed was justice denied, and he worked tirelessly to modernise the courts,” said a fellow appellate judge.
Funeral and memorial arrangements will be announced by the family and the Judiciary in the coming days.
Justice Ochieng’s passing leaves a void in Kenya’s legal system, but his reforms and commitment to mediation remain a central part of his legacy.
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