Prof. Phoebe Okowa has marked another milestone in the country’s growing profile within the United Nations system, after being elected the the first Kenyan judge of the International Court of Justice.
Okowa who is a member of the International Law Commission, was elected an ICJ judge on Wednesday Nowember 12, after winning a tightly contested race in both the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The international law scholar secured the required majority in the fourth round of voting, defeating three other candidates vying to occupy the vacant position left by Somali Judge Abdulqawi, following his resignation on September 30, 2025.
Prof Okowa received 106 votes out of 185 in the UN General Assembly, surpassing the 97-vote majority threshold, and garnered eight out of 15 votes in the Security Council, the minimum required to clinch the position.
Additionally , she was nominated jointly by Colombia, Kenya, Namibia, the Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, and Vanuatu marking her term that will run until February 5, 2027.
“This victory demonstrates confidence in Okowa’s judicial competence and Kenya’s standing,” Sing’oei said shortly after the announcement,”commented on the win Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei.
With the victory, Okawa becomes part of a group of distinguished African jurists who have served on the International Court of Justice, including Sierra Leone’s Abdul Koroma and Somalia’s Abdulqawi.
Okowa will be sworn in at The Hague in early 2026 and will serve until February 5, 2027.
Prof. Okowa was first elected to the International Law Commission in 2021, for a period of five years, starting January 1, 2023, becoming the first African woman to serve as a member of the Commission. In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague by Kenya.
She was also an advocate of the High Court of Kenya where she acted as counsel and consultant to governments and non-governmental organizations on questions of international law .
