By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 8, 2026 - Kenya's bid to secure a seat on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has received a major diplomatic boost after Judge Phoebe Okowa secured the highest number of international co-nominations ever received by an African candidate ahead of this year's United Nations elections.
The milestone follows the publication of the official list of candidates by the UN Secretary-General for election to the world's highest judicial body, where judges for the 2027–2036 term will be chosen in November.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei said the unprecedented support reflects growing international confidence in both Judge Okowa's credentials and Kenya's contribution to the development of international law.
"I express Kenya's sincere appreciation to all National Groups that have co-nominated Judge Phoebe Okowa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2027–2036 term—the highest number of co-nominations garnered by an African ICJ candidate so far," Sing'oei said.
He added that the government remained grateful for the broad international support as Kenya heads into the decisive UN vote.
"We remain grateful to all Member States and the entire international community for your cross-regional support and confidence placed in the candidature of Judge Okowa throughout this process as we look ahead to the November 2026 ICJ elections."
According to the official UN nominations, Judge Okowa received endorsements from national groups across Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, signalling broad cross-regional backing.
Countries that co-nominated her include Kenya, France, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, among others.
The extensive list of endorsements is expected to strengthen Kenya's diplomatic campaign as member states prepare to elect five judges to the court later this year.
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Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN bodies.
Judges are elected jointly by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, with successful candidates required to secure an absolute majority in both bodies.
Those elected will serve a nine-year term beginning on 6 February 2027.
Judge Okowa, an internationally recognised scholar and expert in public international law, is seeking to become one of the 15 judges serving on the court.
Kenya views her candidacy as an opportunity to strengthen Africa's representation in international judicial institutions while contributing to the continued development of international law.
With record international backing already secured, the country's attention now turns to the November elections, where diplomatic support will ultimately be tested at the United Nations.