The Supreme Court of Kenya has lifted its ban on Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, allowing him, his law firm, and its employees to once again appear before the apex court.
In a ruling delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, and Justices Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung’u, Isaac Lenaola, and William Ouko on January 23, 2026, the court said it was persuaded that Ahmednasir had had sufficient time to reflect on his conduct and reassess his relationship with the court.
“We are persuaded that Mr. Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC has had an opportunity to introspect, and determine his relationship with this Court going forward,” the judges said in their decision.
The matter came before the court on January 20, 2026, during a mention of Petition No. E015 of 2025. Senior Counsel Paul Muite informed the court that he and Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia were appearing as lead counsel for the respondent’s representative Dennis Mosota.
SC Ahmednasir Abdullahi Supreme Court ban was lifted
Muite clarified that their appearance was limited to making an oral application seeking the vacation of an order issued by the Supreme Court on January 23, 2024, which had barred Ahmednasir from appearing before the court.
The 2024 order prohibited Ahmednasir from having any audience with the apex court, either in person, through employees of his law firm, or through any person acting on his instructions.
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In considering the application, the court noted that although the matters leading to the ban were grave, two years had elapsed since the sanction was imposed.
The judges said the original sanction had been necessary to protect the authority and dignity of the court but added that they had no reason to doubt assurances given by Muite, Ngatia, and Mosota that Ahmednasir would uphold the court’s decorum and dignity going forward.
“Indeed, the sanction we issued against Mr. Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC was dictated by the need to protect the authority and dignity of the Court. Likewise, we have no reason at this moment, to doubt the assurances given to the Court by Messrs Muite, Ngatia, and Mosota regarding the undertaking by Mr. Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC to uphold the decorum and dignity of this Court.”
As a result, the court ruled that Ahmednasir, his firm’s employees, and anyone acting on his instructions may now appear and practise before the Supreme Court, including in the proceedings before it.
However, the judges clarified that the January 23, 2024, order could not be formally vacated in the present matter, as it was issued in separate proceedings that have since been concluded.
Ban
In January 2024, the Supreme Court barred Ahmednasir and associates of his law firm from making submissions before it, accusing the Senior Counsel of repeatedly scandalising and ridiculing the court.
In a statement issued at the time, the apex court said the lawyer had conducted a sustained campaign in broadcast, print, and social media platforms, accusing the court and its judges of corruption, incompetence, and bribery.
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The court said the decision followed repeated cautions that had failed to restrain his conduct.
“It is untenable that you would seek justice in the very institution and before the very judges whose reputation and integrity you never tire in assaulting,” the court said in the statement signed by Registrar of the Supreme Court Letizia Wachira.
Ahmednasir publicly dismissed the ban at the time, describing it as a “badge of honour.” The Supreme Court said its decision, though likely to affect litigants who had already sought the lawyer’s services, was necessary to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary.
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