The Supreme Court of Kenya has dismissed an application seeking to overturn its decision barring Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and his law firm from appearing before the court.
The ruling, delivered on March 14, 2025, reaffirmed the court’s earlier position, citing continuous attacks on the judiciary by the lawyer.
The case originated from a January 2024 directive in which the Supreme Court recused all seven judges from cases involving Ahmednasir or his firm, Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates LLP.
The court accused the lawyer of conducting a sustained media campaign aimed at discrediting the judiciary. A similar directive was issued on January 25, 2025, in another case where Ahmednasir’s firm was representing an appellant.
An application filed by Julius Miiri sought to have the recusal order reviewed and set aside. The applicant argued that the decision unfairly affected other lawyers in the firm and their clients.
Miiri claimed that the ruling was excessive and infringed on the rights of the firm’s partners and associates, who were not directly involved in the alleged misconduct. He further contended that the court had inherent jurisdiction to review its decisions to ensure justice was upheld.
The Supreme Court dismissed the application, terming it procedurally flawed. The judges ruled that Miiri lacked the legal standing to challenge the decision, noting that he was not a party to the original proceedings and had not applied to be enjoined in the case. The court also stated that the application was not based on any specific appeal or petition, as required by the Supreme Court Rules.
A letter submitted by Ahmednasir’s firm highlighting procedural flaws in the recusal order was dismissed as mere correspondence, with the court emphasizing that formal pleadings had not been filed by the affected parties.
The judges clarified that the recusal order only applied to cases where Ahmednasir or his firm were directly involved, and it did not prevent other lawyers in the firm from handling different matters before the Supreme Court.
This ruling reinforces the court’s firm stance against Ahmednasir, who has been publicly criticized for his attacks on the judiciary. The Supreme Court’s decision to recuse itself from cases involving the senior counsel remains a rare and unprecedented move, sparking widespread debate within the legal community.
https://read.kenyans.co.ke/Ngx1z
