NAIROBI, KENYA – In a landmark achievement for Kenyan diplomacy and international jurisprudence, Professor Phoebe Nyawade Okowa has been elected to the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). The election, which took place at the UN General Assembly in New York, makes her the first woman from Africa to join the esteemed body since its establishment in 1947.

Professor Okowa secured an overwhelming mandate with 162 votes, a testament to a robust diplomatic campaign by the Kenyan government and her global recognition as a leading expert in public international law. Her five-year term is set to begin on January 1, 2023, and will run until December 31, 2027.

The election is a significant moment for Kenya, elevating its stature on the world stage. It places a Kenyan national at the centre of critical global conversations and the formulation of treaties and legal norms that will govern international relations for generations. Foreign Affairs officials have lauded the victory as indicative of Kenya's growing influence and the high calibre of its professionals.

What is the International Law Commission?

Established by the UN General Assembly in 1947, the International Law Commission is the UN's top expert body tasked with the progressive development and codification of international law. It is composed of 34 members, elected by the General Assembly for five-year terms, who are recognized for their individual expertise and competence in international law, rather than as government representatives. The ILC's work has been foundational to the creation of key international treaties and institutions, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the International Criminal Court.

A Victory for Kenya and Africa

Professor Okowa's presence on the commission is a watershed moment. Of the 229 members elected to the ILC since its inception over 70 years ago, only seven have been women. Her election as the first African woman is a historic step towards gender and regional balance in the institution responsible for shaping global legal frameworks.

For Kenya and the East Africa region, her role provides a crucial voice in the development of international law on matters of vital interest, including environmental protection, the law of the sea, state responsibility, and human rights. Her expertise in areas such as state responsibility for transboundary pollution and the protection of natural resources in conflict zones is particularly relevant to contemporary regional and global challenges.

Who is Professor Phoebe Okowa?

Born in Kericho, Kenya, on January 1, 1965, Professor Okowa has had a distinguished academic and legal career. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with First Class Honours from the University of Nairobi in 1987, becoming the first woman in the faculty's history to achieve this distinction. She later earned a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, she is currently a Professor of Public International Law at Queen Mary University of London. Professor Okowa has served as counsel and consultant to governments and international organizations on complex legal issues and has appeared before the International Court of Justice. In 2016, she was appointed by Kenya as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

The Government of Kenya nominated her for the ILC position in May 2021, a move that was endorsed by the African Union and co-nominated by the United Kingdom, reflecting broad international support for her candidacy.

In a statement following her election, Professor Okowa expressed her gratitude to the UN member states for their confidence. “I look forward to working with the other members of the commission... as the commission continues its vital work in responding to the defining challenges of our generation,” she said.