National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has joined the Judiciary and members of the legal fraternity in mourning the death of Court of Appeal Judge Fredrick Ochieng Andago, who passed away on Wednesday morning.
In a condolence message, Wetang’ula said he received the news of Justice Andago’s death with profound sorrow, describing the late jurist as a dedicated public servant and a key pillar in the advancement of Kenya’s legal system.
“A peace maker, a certified mediator, the late Andago was known to encourage feuding parties to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, including mediation,” said Wetang’ula.
“His passing is not only a loss to the Judiciary but to the entire nation, which has benefitted from his wisdom, professionalism, and commitment to justice.”
Andago’s career in the Judiciary spanned over 22 years, beginning in 2003 when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court.
He served in various capacities across the country, including in the Civil Division, Criminal Division, Commercial and Admiralty Division, and at the High Courts in Kitale, Kakamega, and Kisumu.
In 2022, he was promoted to the Court of Appeal, where he continued to play a significant role in shaping Kenya’s jurisprudence.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, who first announced his passing, described him as a “towering figure in Kenya’s legal landscape” and a strong advocate for the use of mediation in resolving disputes.
“We stand in solidarity with his family, friends, and the entire Judiciary community during this difficult period of mourning,” said Koome.
“He will be fondly remembered as a key contributor to Kenya’s commercial law jurisprudence and a champion of alternative dispute resolution.”
At the time of his death, Justice Andago was serving as the Chairperson of the Court Annexed Mediation (CAM) Taskforce, a Judiciary-led initiative promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a means to ease case backlogs and enhance access to justice.
His leadership was instrumental in expanding the national roll-out of court-annexed mediation across Kenyan courts.
Before joining the bench, Andago had a distinguished legal career as an advocate at Kaplan & Stratton Advocates, where he worked for nearly two decades and built a reputation as a seasoned expert in commercial law.
