Kenya has secured a major victory in the global legal arena with Professor Phoebe Okowa’s election as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. She was elected after a rigorous process by both the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), defeating three other candidates. According to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei, who announced via his official X account, “After four rounds of voting, Prof Phoebe Okowa has been duly elected by both the UNGA and UNSC. This victory demonstrates confidence in her judicial competence and Kenya’s standing.”
Professor Okowa secured the seat following four rounds of voting in the UN General Assembly and three rounds in the Security Council. The vacancy was created when Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia resigned effective 30 September 2025. Her term will run until 5 February 2027, filling the remainder of the former judge’s term.
Professor Okowa’s election marks several firsts and has deep significance. She becomes the first Kenyan by birth to serve as an ICJ judge, her victory spotlights Kenya’s growing role in international law and global governance, and it reinforces the importance of authentic African representation in major multilateral judicial bodies.
Phoebe Okowa was born on 1 January 1965 in Kericho County, Kenya. She graduated with first‑class honours from the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Law in 1987, becoming the first woman to do so there. She holds a BCL and DPhil from the University of Oxford and is currently a Professor of Public International Law and Director of Graduate Studies at Queen Mary University of London. She previously served on the International Law Commission from 2023, becoming the first African woman elected to that body. Her expertise spans state responsibility, environmental law, dispute settlement, and international legal frameworks.
Kenya’s success in securing Okowa’s election was underpinned by coordinated diplomacy. The government formally nominated her on 27 February 2025 through Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the UN. In September 2025, Principal Secretary Sing’oei led efforts to build support among UN member states, including engagement with Japan’s ambassador to Kenya. The victory has been celebrated by Kenyan leaders and legal institutions as enhancing the country’s global profile.
As an ICJ judge, Professor Okowa will contribute to settling state‑to‑state disputes and providing advisory opinions on matters of international law. Kenya’s representation at the ICJ strengthens the voice of African jurisprudence in key global institutions and may inspire other African and Kenyan legal professionals to pursue service at the highest levels of international law.
Professor Okowa’s election to the International Court of Justice is a milestone for Kenya, Africa, and the global legal community. Her appointment blends years of academic excellence, professional practice, and diplomatic strategy. It underscores how national investment in legal talent and international engagement can yield high-impact results on the world stage. Her term may be relatively short until February 2027, but the legacy of her election and what it symbolizes will far outlast the period of service. Kenya’s growing influence in international law has been affirmed.
