Kenyan Legal Scholar Phoebe Okowa Makes History After Election to Top UN Court
Kenya has made history on the international stage after Professor Phoebe Okowa, a respected legal scholar and academic, was elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
Her election follows months of diplomatic efforts and lobbying by the Kenyan government to secure the seat.
Okowa’s election came after four rounds of competitive voting held by both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. She emerged victorious against three other candidates to clinch the prestigious post.
In an official statement from the UN Security Council (UNSC), it was confirmed that Okowa had won by an absolute majority.
She will now join 14 other judges who sit at the ICJ, the highest judicial body of the UN. Each judge serves a term of nine years, and elections for five of the seats are conducted every three years to ensure continuity and experience in the court.
“I have the honour to inform you that, at the 10040th meeting of the Security Council held on 12 November 2025 for the purpose of electing a member of the International Court of Justice to fill the seat that became vacant on 30 September 2025, Ms Phoebe Okowa (Kenya) obtained an absolute majority of votes in the Security Council.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration,” stated Michael Imran Kanu, President of the UNSC, in the official communication.
Okowa’s election marks a major milestone for Kenya, as she becomes the first Kenyan-born individual to serve as a judge at the ICJ and only the fifth African to hold such a position.
Her victory is a historic achievement that highlights Kenya’s growing influence in global diplomacy and international law.
Previously, Kenya was represented at the ICJ by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, who was born in Somalia but later became a naturalised Kenyan citizen.
Yusuf was first elected to the ICJ in 2009, re-elected in 2018, and even served as the Court’s President from 2018 to 2021 — making him the first African to hold that position since 1994.
About the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The International Court of Justice is the main judicial body of the United Nations, responsible for resolving legal disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions on complex international legal matters referred by UN organs and agencies.
Unlike other UN positions where governments directly nominate candidates, ICJ judges are nominated by national groups within the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Each national group — made up of distinguished jurists — can nominate up to four candidates, with a maximum of two from their own country.
Elections for ICJ judges are held both in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), and voting occurs simultaneously but independently.
A candidate must secure an absolute majority in both bodies to be elected. In the UNGA, this means receiving at least 97 votes out of 193 member states, while in the UNSC, a candidate needs at least 8 out of 15 votes.
About Professor Phoebe Okowa
Before her election to the ICJ, Professor Phoebe Okowa was already serving as a member of the International Law Commission (ILC), a prestigious UN body that develops and codifies international law.
She began her five-year term on January 1, 2023, becoming the first African woman to hold that position — a groundbreaking achievement in itself.
Okowa is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and brings extensive experience in international law, which makes her a perfect fit for her new global role.
She earned her PhD from the University of Oxford and has served as counsel and advisor to various governments and international organisations.
Her legal expertise has been instrumental in handling complex international cases, including those argued before the ICJ.
The ICJ’s statutes require that judges must be individuals of high moral character with well-recognised competence in international law.
Additionally, the court’s composition must reflect a fair balance of the world’s major legal systems, and no two judges may come from the same country at the same time.
Following Okowa’s victory, congratulatory messages poured in from countries across the world, celebrating both her personal achievement and Kenya’s success on the global legal stage.
Her election comes after an intensive eight-month lobbying campaign that began in March when her nomination was first submitted.
Professor Okowa’s rise to the ICJ is not only a personal triumph but also a source of national pride for Kenya. Her appointment reinforces the country’s commitment to international justice, legal excellence, and representation at the highest levels of global governance.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
