Kenya Wraps Up Campaign for Okowa ICJ Bid Ahead of Polls

Kenya has concluded months of diplomatic lobbying to secure the election of Professor Phoebe Okowa to a full nine-year term at the International Court of Justice, with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei making a final appeal to United Nations member states to support her candidature. The Kenya Permanent Mission to the UN hosted a reception in New York Wednesday as the country wrapped up its campaign for Okowa, who is seeking to retain her seat at the world court for the 2027–2036 term. After months of intense outreach, we concluded the campaigns for Prof Phoebe Okowa for Judge of ICJ for 2027-2036 term with a reception in New York today, Sing’Oei said. He said Kenya had urged UN member states to consider the qualities required of judges entrusted with interpreting and applying international law. Prof Okowa answers these demanding standards admirably and we commended her candidature to all, he added. The final push comes ahead of the November 3 election, in which UN member states will elect five judges to the 15-member court. Okowa was elected in November 2025 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Somali judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. Her current mandate runs until February 5, 2027, meaning she must win a fresh election to secure the full term. Kenya formally launched her candidature in January, with Sing’Oei describing her election to the court as a milestone for the country, Africa and the international legal community. The government subsequently intensified its diplomatic campaign, with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi engaging African foreign ministers in Addis Ababa in February to mobilise regional support. Kenya also pursued backing through its diplomatic missions and engagements with countries across different regions. In July, reports indicated that Okowa had received co-nominations from 26 countries’ national groups, an unusually strong showing for an African candidate. However, co-nominations do not guarantee votes in the election. The voting will be conducted separately by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. Candidates must secure an absolute majority in both bodies to be elected, with voting potentially extending through several rounds. Okowa is a professor of public international law at Queen Mary University of London. Her career spans more than three decades in legal scholarship, advisory work and international litigation. She has served on the UN International Law Commission and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and has advised governments and non-governmental organisations on international legal questions. Her election in 2025 made her the first Kenyan and the eighth woman globally to serve on the ICJ bench. Kenya has presented her candidature as part of its broader effort to strengthen its representation in multilateral institutions and promote African participation in international legal decision-making. The ICJ, based in The Hague, settles legal disputes between states and issues advisory opinions on questions of international law referred to it by authorised UN bodies. Okowa’s election for a full term would extend Kenya’s representation on the court for nine years beyond her current mandate. The contest features 10 candidates competing for five seats, with Okowa facing contenders from Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. They include Dapo Akande of the United Kingdom, François Alabrune (France), Taoheed Olufemi Elias (Nigeria), Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud (Jordan) and Luz del Carmen Carranza (Peru). Others are Charles Chernor Jalloh (Sierra Leone), Rena Lee (Singapore), Jin-Hyun Paik (South Korea) and Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez (Ecuador). The election will be decided by separate votes in the UN General Assembly and Security Council, with each candidate required to secure an absolute majority in both bodies. The process may require several rounds before all five seats are filled.