Kenya has formally launched a diplomatic offensive to secure a full nine-year term for Judge Phoebe Okowa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), signaling the country’s growing legal clout on the world stage.

Following her historic election in November 2025 to serve the remainder of a vacant term, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now looking to 2027. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-15)The government has endorsed the distinguished legal scholar to retain her seat when the current partial term expires, aiming to cement Kenya’s presence at the highest judicial organ of the United Nations in The Hague.

A Trailblazer in Robes

Judge Okowa’s ascent has been meteoric. Born in Kericho and educated at the University of Nairobi and Oxford, she became the first Kenyan national elected to the court, defeating stiff competition from Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

• The Strategy: Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei has termed her candidature a "national imperative," mobilizing the African Union bloc to ensure she secures the full mandate in the 2026 elections.
• The Track Record: Okowa previously served on the UN International Law Commission and has been a formidable voice in international dispute resolution, bringing a nuanced African perspective to global law.

Why This Matters for Nairobi

"Professor Okowa represents the very best of our legal fraternity," the Ministry statement read. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-17)Her presence at the ICJ is not just a personal victory but a strategic asset for Kenya, ensuring the country—and the continent—has a voice in the adjudication of complex international disputes.

As the campaign machinery gears up for the vote in New York later this year, Okowa stands as a symbol of Kenyan excellence, poised to shape international law for the next decade.