Rest in peace judge
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH
Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission
Tributes Shared
A true mentor. I first encountered judge at a wedding ceremony of one of our common relatives. Judge was so eloquent in his diction. He is the reason I found my self in the bench. Rest in peace Judge
I am heartbroken by the loss of Justice Fred Ochieng. He was more than a judge; he was a peacemaker who believed in justice through dialogue and reconciliation. His passion for mediation changed lives, and his kindness and wisdom will never be forgotten. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Epitaph: "Never condemned a man unheard" â—Ź All I remember from a brief introduction in a conference were his big, sharp eyes. â—Ź One of his many judgments was about me. His ruling dated 6th October 2016 in Goodison v. Symbion dismissed an application for my removal as an arbitrator for several reasons. One was that the applicant, by not naming me as a party, had denied me an opportunity to be heard under s. 14.(4) of the Arbitration Act. The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against his ruling while the Supreme Court refused to grant leave for a further appeal. â—Ź I will remember him as the judge who applied the law and ruled in my favour in my absence. Paul Ngotho, Chartered Arbitrator.
Rest well judge. You were a great mentor and you were always there at my lowest. You support will be missed. It is not easy to say goodbye.
You lived well and touched numerous lives with your sharp intellect and uncommon charm. Go well Judge and may the Lord comfort your family.
He was a man of his own words and a truthful man may almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace amen
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Thank you Justice Ochieng for your service. I fondly remember our interactions during the Mediation Summit 2025 at Strathmore University. Rest well Judge
I first met Him Ochieng when we started court annexed mediation in 2016,he was very supportive during roll outs in other stations,he loved mediation with passion,May his soul rest in peace
I pay tribute to the late Hon. Justice Ochieng, under whose guidance I had the privilege to serve in Kisumu. He was a mentor who exemplified the values of discipline and dedication, teaching me that punctuality and hard work are the foundations of professional excellence. His lessons continue to inspire and guide me in my judicial career.
Your were an outstanding legal mind. You could see what the issue was when parties were still going round in circles. Rest in peace judge. Your served your country with Honour.
I worked under Justice Fred in Eldoret Law Courts. He was such an amazing soul. I haven’t forgotten his valuable advice and mentoring. Go well Judge. May you rest in eternal peace.
I was privileged to work with Judge Ochieng in Kisumu /Siaya region and i was his successor in matters that he was handling before he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. I took over the conduct of his matters from 16th September 2023 in Kisumu. And finally i inherited his big chambers for 2 years. From the Court files, the Judge advocated for ADR all the time which is the best mode of dispute resolution. He was so accomodative of parties and their Counsel. He valued justice for all. He readily handled my files for certificates of urgency or murder pleas from Siaya when i was on leave or indisposed. When he was not comfortable with vexatious litigants, he politely send them to Siaya. I would do the same.Siaya HC was borne out of Kisumu HC. We remained Kisumu baby and worked so harmoniously that you would think we were one and the same Court. Judge Ochieng was our father in the region. He never missed to comfort us during bereavement. He was forever present in our lives. He appreciated the fact that i was his County Judge. His original home is near Siaya town and that is where his larger family resides. I will miss Judge Ochieng.
The untimely demise of Hon .Justice Fred Ochieng is a big blow to his family , the Judiciary & Legal Profession . Needless to state , he was intelligent , astute & humorous Judge. May God rest his soul in eternal peace . Muga Apondi .