NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s nominee for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Professor Phoebe Okowa, has been elected to the world court after a historic vote by both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, November 12, 2025.
Prof. Okowa’s election followed four rounds of competitive voting, where she defeated three other candidates to clinch the position left vacant by Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf of Uganda, who resigned on September 30, 2025.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei announced the victory, describing it as a “demonstration of confidence in Prof. Okowa’s judicial competence and Kenya’s standing in international law.”
“I commend our New York and Geneva teams for leading the charge,” Sing’oei said, hailing the coordinated diplomatic effort that delivered the win.
In the UN General Assembly, Prof. Okowa secured 106 votes out of 185, surpassing the 97-vote threshold required for a majority. In the UN Security Council, she garnered eight out of 15 votes, meeting the minimum required for election.
Her election marks the first time in Kenya’s history that a national has been elected to the ICJ — one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for settling disputes between states and giving advisory opinions on international legal questions.
The newly elected judge will serve the remainder of Yusuf’s term until February 5, 2027, after which Kenya intends to seek her election for a full nine-year term beginning in 2027.
Prof. Okowa’s nomination was endorsed by Kenya, Namibia, Colombia, the Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, and Vanuatu, reflecting broad international support.
Congratulatory messages poured in from diplomats and leaders across the world. Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria Maurice Makoloo lauded her appointment as “a well-deserved recognition of her credentials,” while High Commissioner to Canada Carolyne Kamende wrote, “MashaAllah! Congratulations, Prof. Phoebe Okowa.”
Prof. Okowa, a renowned Professor of Public International Law at Queen Mary University of London, has served as Director of Graduate Studies at the institution since 2002.
She previously taught at the University of Bristol and held visiting positions at the Universities of Lille, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Berlin’s WZB Social Science Center.
An advocate of the High Court of Kenya, she has advised governments and international organizations on complex legal disputes, including those before the ICJ.
In 2021, she became the first African woman elected to the International Law Commission, securing 162 votes at the UN General Assembly.
A graduate of the University of Nairobi with First Class Honours in Law, Prof. Okowa pursued postgraduate studies at Oxford University, earning a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) under the supervision of the late Prof. Ian Brownlie QC, one of the world’s leading authorities on international law.
Her election, analysts say, strengthens Kenya’s footprint in global governance and reinforces its image as a nation deeply engaged in international legal and multilateral systems.
“Prof. Okowa’s election is a win for Kenya, Africa, and women in international law,” said international law scholar Dr. Kemoli Sagala, adding that her experience brings both “academic depth and practical wisdom” to the bench.
