Supreme Court Lifts Ahmednasir Ban

On January 23, 2026, exactly two years after the initial sanction, the Supreme Court of Kenya officially lifted its lifetime ban on Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and his law firm. 

Key Details of the Ruling

• The Bench: The decision was delivered by a full bench including Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, and Justices Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung'u, Isaac Lenaola, and William Ouko.
• Reasoning: The court stated that the two-year sanction had "served its purpose" and that sufficient time had elapsed for the lawyer to reflect on his conduct.
• Assurances of Reform: The ruling followed an application by Senior Counsels Paul Muite and Fred Ngatia, who assured the court that Ahmednasir would uphold the decorum and dignity of the judiciary moving forward.
• Scope: The lift allows Ahmednasir, his partners, and his firm's employees to resume practice before the apex court in all ongoing and future proceedings. 

Ahmednasir’s Response

Despite the legal victory, Ahmednasir Abdullahi has reportedly declared that he will not resume practice before the Supreme Court immediately. 

• Personal Boycott: He characterized the lifting of the ban as an "appeasement ploy" and stated he would maintain a personal boycott until fundamental integrity reforms are made within the court.
• "JurisPESA" War: He stated that returning to the court would compromise his ability to speak freely against what he terms "JurisPESA"—his allegation of the monetization of justice. 

Background of the Ban

The original ban was imposed on January 23, 2024, after the court accused the lawyer of a "sustained campaign" of public attacks on social and mainstream media, accusing judges of corruption and incompetence. At the time, the court described his behavior as professional misconduct inconsistent with the status of a Senior Counsel.