Kenya’s Phoebe Okowa elected to serve as judge at International Court of Justice
Sing’oei described the election as a testament to Prof. Okowa’s judicial expertise and Kenya’s strong standing in international law.
Kenya scored a major diplomatic and legal triumph after Professor Phoebe Okowa was elected a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The announcement came on Wednesday night, November 12, 2025, when Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei shared the news on his official X account.
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According to Sing’oei, Prof. Okowa’s victory came after four rounds of voting by both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council, outpacing three other contenders.
“After four rounds of voting, Prof Phoebe Okowa has been duly elected by both the UNGA and UN Security Council, a judge of the International Court of Justice, defeating three other candidates,” he said.
Sing’oei described the election as a testament to Prof. Okowa’s judicial expertise and Kenya’s strong standing in international law.
He also recognised the contribution of Kenya’s diplomatic teams in New York and Geneva for steering the campaign.
“This victory demonstrates confidence in Prof. Okowa’s judicial competence and Kenya’s standing. I commend our New York and Geneva Teams for leading the charge,” he noted.
Prof. Okowa was nominated as Kenya’s candidate for the ICJ judge position in March 2025.
A letter from Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, shared by Sing’oei on March 1, 2025, confirmed that the nomination was communicated to the Permanent Mission of Djibouti, which coordinates Eastern Africa’s candidatures, seeking support from member states in the African Group.
The Kenyan government expressed full confidence in Prof. Okowa’s capabilities and suitability for the role.
“The government of the Republic of Kenya is convinced that Professor Okowa is competent and well qualified to contribute to the work of the ICJ,” the statement said.
Sing’oei also highlighted her outstanding credentials as a member of the International Law Commission, describing her as a distinguished figure in the legal field.
“The highly distinguished Prof. Phoebe Okowa, member of the International Law Commission, is Kenya’s nominee for Judge of the International Court of Justice during the election of 2026,” he stated.
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