NAIROBI, Kenya – Justice Nzioki wa Makau has been nominated for appointment to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT), marking the first time a Kenyan has been recommended for a judicial role within the UN’s internal justice system.
The Internal Justice Council (IJC), an independent body established by the UN General Assembly to oversee the system of administration of justice, named Justice Makau among 10 candidates shortlisted for five half-time judicial positions in a report released on June 30, 2025.
The General Assembly will confirm the final appointments at its 80th session later this year.
Justice Makau, who currently serves as Presiding Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) in Kisumu, brings more than 13 years of judicial experience.
Appointed to the bench in 2012, he has served in Nairobi, Nyeri, and Kisumu, developing a reputation for his expertise in employment and labor law.
He holds a Master of Laws degree in Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School in Oregon, USA, obtained in 2018 — a rare specialization in Africa — and degrees in economics, general law, and laws from Bombay University.
Before joining the Judiciary, Justice Makau worked at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from 2005 to 2012 as an attorney and investigator, following earlier service as a prosecutor with the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority. He also practiced privately in criminal, commercial, and corporate law.
Beyond the courtroom, he has been instrumental in judicial administration and reform. He chairs the Judiciary’s Human Resource Administration Committee and serves as Treasurer of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association.
He is also a former chair of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association for the Mt. Kenya Region and served as Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee of Inquiry on the Status and Recovery of Judiciary Land and Assets.
Justice Makau’s nomination is seen as a milestone for Kenya and the East African region in international judicial representation.
The UN Dispute Tribunal, with seats in New York, Geneva, and Nairobi, adjudicates employment-related disputes involving UN staff members. Successful candidates will serve seven-year, non-renewable terms beginning in July 2026.
The 2025 selection process was highly competitive, drawing 391 applications from 79 countries.
Candidates underwent written assessments and interviews before the IJC recommended those with outstanding legal reasoning and judicial competence.
Justice Makau is also known for his environmental advocacy. He is the founder and chairperson of the Tsavo Trust, a conservation organization supporting wildlife and habitat protection in Kenya’s Tsavo ecosystem.
Kenya’s legal community has hailed the nomination as a recognition of the country’s growing influence in international law and governance.
The final appointments will be announced once the General Assembly concludes its deliberations in New York.
