Brilliant,articulate, just and humorous judge. We shall remember him for the courtesy and kindness he spread among those he met. He worked hard as a judge, not whisper of corruption against him. Rest well.
Tributes to the Late Hon. Mr. Justice Fredrick Ochieng’ Andago
Tributes to the Late Hon. Mr. Justice Fredrick Ochieng’ Andago
On behalf of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission, I convey with profound sadness the news of the passing of Hon. Justice Fredrick Ochieng Andago, Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Judiciary during this time of great sorrow.
Justice Ochieng joined the Judiciary in 2003 as a Judge of the High Court, where he served with distinction in various stations, including the Civil Division, Kitale, Kakamega, the Criminal Division, the Commercial and Admiralty Division, and Kisumu. In 2022, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
He will be fondly remembered as a towering figure in the development of Kenya’s commercial law jurisprudence and as a strong advocate for the promotion of alternative dispute resolution. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Chairperson of the Court Annexed Mediation Taskforce, which is spearheading the national roll-out of Court-Annexed Mediation.
Prior to joining the Judiciary, he had a distinguished career as an Advocate of the High Court in the firm of Kaplan & Stratton Advocates for almost two decades.
We stand in solidarity with his family, friends, and the entire Judiciary community during this difficult period of mourning. We call for sensitivity and compassion as we share in this collective grief.
May Hon. Justice Fred Ochieng’s soul rest in eternal peace.
Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH
Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission
Tributes Shared
Humble, unassuming, astute, exuberant and a friend to many to whom he religiously sent uplifting messages to every morning. Fare thee well brother.
Your contribution to mediation in Kenya is a legacy you have left for generations to come and for the families that will find peace due to ADR. Rest well in perfect peace.
The Only Mediator I knew in the legal fraternity gone to soon, May his soul rest in eternal peace 🙏
A true icon has rested. Will be remembered for the passion he had for mediation. We are products of his unbeatable efforts. He was full of life, joyous, a happy soul. RIP Ochieng
May the perpetual light shine upon him,,may his soul rest in peace. Amen.
A Gavel of Grace In Loving Memory of Hon. Justice Fred A. Ochieng Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya Champion of Justice, Fairness, and ADR With profound wisdom, he walked the halls, Where justice calls and silence falls. A mind so sharp, a heart so wide, He judged with truth, not fear nor pride. With humour laced in every phrase, He lit the court with a gentle blaze. Not just a judge, but a sage and dear friend, Whose words could heal, whose wit could mend. He saw beyond the conflict and lawyer’s pride, To where solutions softly lie. In ADR, he found the thread, To weave peace where conflict spread. He bridged the Bar and Bench with grace, A meeting ground, a sacred space. Where voices met, and minds aligned, And justice bloomed—refined, designed. Integrity as his guiding star, Courage as his compass near and far. He stood for fairness, firm yet kind, A noble soul, a brilliant mind. Now silence falls where laughter rang, His decisions—testaments of a great man. In our hearts, his legacy stays, A light that guides our future ways. So let us rise, not just to mourn, But celebrate the path he’d trudged on. Justice Ochieng—his name shall be, A song of truth, eternally
A kind man. A great mind. A cheerful person. A beautiful soul. You mentored us well. You will be dearly missed, Judge. So long, my friend.
You were an embodiment of selflessness and humility. Your command of the Queen's language, your laughter, dance and sense of humour will forever remain a challenge to us all. The Judiciary has lost a great man and friend. We will miss you greatly. Go well our brother until we meet again. Amen
Death is fatal. If we could be able to file a petition or an appeal to have his death nullified, God could have let Justice Ochieng live a little longer to always warm our hearts and reveal to us the true purpose of being humorous. Justice F. Ochieng will be missed by many Kenyans who interacted with the him. He had a big heart for justice and the energy to dispense the same. We shall miss you dearly . May your soul rest in peace judge.
Hon. Justice Fred Ochieng was a towering figure in Kenya's legal landscape, leaving an indelible mark on the country's judicial system. I first met him at an Annual Mediation Summit, held at Strathmore University as he was doing the Lord’s work. As Chairman of the Mediation Taskforce, he championed alternative dispute resolution, promoting a more efficient and accessible justice system for all Kenyans. His dedication to commercial law jurisprudence and mediation has inspired a generation of legal professionals. Hon. Justice Ochieng strongly advocated for mediation, driving efforts to ease case backlogs and enhance access to justice. As we mourn his passing, we celebrate his life, legacy, and contributions to Kenya's judicial system. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Condolence Message - Hon. Justice Fredrick Ochieng Andago, Judge of the Court of Appeal and Chairperson of the Court-Annexed Mediation Taskforce. It is with deep sorrow that I mourn the passing of Hon. Justice Fredrick Ochieng Andago, Judge of the Court of Appeal and Chairperson of the Court-Annexed Mediation Taskforce. I will always remember him for his visionary leadership in championing Court-Annexed Mediation, his role in unlocking billions of shillings back into the economy, and his passion for thematic mediation summits — from the 2024 Banking Disputes Mediation Summit, the 2025 Environment and Land Disputes Mediation Summit, to the upcoming 2026 Family Disputes Mediation Summit which he had already spearheaded. His support for private mediation further showed his commitment to broadening access to justice in Kenya. Beyond these achievements, I deeply admired his humility and the way he related with colleagues. Even in difficult situations, he had a remarkable ability to diffuse tension by cracking a light-hearted joke that neutralized the atmosphere and restored calm. Justice Ochieng’s passing is a great loss not only to the Judiciary but to all of us who had the privilege of working with him. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his family find comfort in the legacy he leaves behind. Adv. Chacha Matiko Court-Annexed Mediators Representative
COURT-ANNEXED MEDIATORS OF KENYA NAIROBI CHAPTER Date: 17th September 2025 Hon. Lady Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH Chief Justice & President of the Supreme Court of Kenya Chairperson, Judicial Service Commission Your Ladyship Chief Justice, MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE ON THE PASSING OF HON. JUSTICE FREDRICK OCHIENG ANDAGO, JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEAL On behalf of the Court-Annexed Mediators of Kenya, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Judiciary of Kenya, the Judicial Service Commission, and the family of Hon. Justice Fredrick Ochieng Andago, following his untimely passing. Justice Ochieng was a towering figure in Kenya’s justice sector and a true champion of mediation. As Chairperson of the Court-Annexed Mediation Taskforce, he will be remembered for his visionary leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to ensuring mediation became an integral pillar of access to justice in Kenya. Under his stewardship, the mediation sector achieved historic milestones, including: • National Expansion of CAM: Spearheading the roll-out of Court-Annexed Mediation to more than 40 counties, supported by the establishment of functional mediation registries countrywide. • Unlocking Economic Value: Overseeing the release of more than KSh 69 billion back into the economy through mediated settlements, funds that would otherwise have remained tied up in protracted litigation. • High Settlement Rates: Driving a settlement rate of over 90% in referred matters, significantly reducing case backlog and ensuring timely justice. • Capacity Building: Growing the body of accredited mediators to over 1,500 nationwide, with more than 800 actively serving in the courts. • Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Guiding the development and implementation of the Civil Procedure (Court-Annexed Mediation) Rules, 2022, providing a strong legal and procedural foundation for mediation practice in Kenya. Justice Ochieng also believed in innovation and dialogue through thematic forums. He championed: • The 2024 Banking Disputes Mediation Summit, • The 2025 Environment and Land Disputes Mediation Summit, • The forthcoming Family Disputes Mediation Summit (April 2026) which he had already spearheaded; and • Continuous advocacy for Private Mediation as a complementary path to access to justice. Beyond his professional achievements, mediators will also remember him for his warmth and humanity. Even in difficult situations, he had a remarkable ability to diffuse tension by cracking a light-hearted joke that neutralized the atmosphere and restored calm. His humility, mentorship, and encouragement inspired accredited mediators to serve with fairness, neutrality, and dedication. His passing is a profound loss not only to the Judiciary but to the mediation fraternity and the nation at large. We stand in solidarity with his family, colleagues, and the entire Judiciary during this difficult time. May the Almighty God grant his family comfort and may his soul rest in eternal peace. Yours faithfully, _________________________ Adv. Chacha Matiko Court-Annexed Mediators Representative Tel: 0722417999 Cc: The Mediation Secretariat
My heartfelt condolences to his family,entire judiciary family and friends for the loss of a great gentleman, mentor, father and my boss. It was a privilege to work under him as his close security, we'll miss him dearly, his advice, directives, jokes and smile. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE 🕊️🕊️🕊️
Your hard work and efforts towards court annex mediation will leave in our memories and many will benefit from it. Rest in peace our hero.