Judge Okowa, who made history in November 2025 as the first Kenyan elected to the ICJ, is now seeking election to a regular term covering 2027 to 2036. The November 2026 elections at the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council will determine whether she secures the full mandate.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said Kenya remains confident in Judge Okowa’s prospects, citing strong international support that propelled her initial election. He described her appointment as reflecting “cross-regional confidence in her independence, expertise and familiarity with diverse legal traditions.”
“Her election is a milestone achievement for Kenya, Africa and the international legal community,” Sing’Oei said, pledging continued diplomatic engagement ahead of the crucial vote.
Groundbreaking November 2025 Victory
Judge Okowa’s current term arose from a competitive election last November, when she secured the required majority in both the UN General Assembly and Security Council to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Somali Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, effective September 30, 2025.
After four intense rounds of voting, she defeated candidates from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ghana, obtaining 106 votes in the General Assembly against 79 for her closest rival, and securing eight votes to seven in the Security Council’s final round.
Her success was celebrated across diplomatic and academic circles as historic, enhancing Kenya’s international profile and contributing to greater African representation. She became the first Kenyan and the eighth woman to serve on the 15-member ICJ bench.
Distinguished Academic and Professional Record
Born in Kericho on January 1, 1965, Judge Okowa has built a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. She was the first woman to graduate with First Class Honours from the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Law in 1987, later earning advanced law degrees at Oxford University where she completed her doctorate in 1994.
Currently Professor of Public International Law at Queen Mary University of London, she became the first African woman elected to the UN International Law Commission in 2021. She also served as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague from 2017 to 2022.
Commitment to Independence and Integrity
Speaking about her role, Judge Okowa has emphasized that competence, independence and integrity must remain at the heart of the Court’s work as it confronts complex global disputes.
Drawing on her experience as a scholar, advisor and advocate, she highlighted her belief in international law as an indispensable tool for peaceful conflict resolution. She has acted as counsel for governments and organizations on international law questions before domestic and international courts, including the ICJ itself.
Her portfolio has included cases concerning genocide, maritime delimitations, climate change obligations and issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Judge Okowa’s presence on the bench is seen as contributing to much-needed diversity on the ICJ, both in terms of gender parity and regional representation. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described her election as “a proud moment for Africa and a testament to the continent’s growing contribution to the strengthening of the global rule of law and multilateralism.”
The ICJ, established by the UN Charter in 1945 and based in The Hague, Netherlands, settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on international legal questions. Its 15 judges serve nine-year terms and may be re-elected.
Kenya’s diplomatic outreach for Judge Okowa’s full-term candidature has included appeals to key UN member states, with Foreign Affairs officials emphasizing her qualifications and Kenya’s commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law.
If successful in November 2026, Judge Okowa would assume office on February 6, 2027, serving until 2036 and cementing Kenya’s position among nations with long-term representation at the world’s highest court.
