PROF. PHOEBE OKOWA: Kenya’s Nominee To The International Court of Justice
Prof. Phoebe Okowa has been nominated as Kenya’s candidate for Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the 2026 elections.
According to a letter issued on Saturday by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations formally communicated the candidacy to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Djibouti, which coordinates Eastern African candidatures.
Kenya has written to African Group member states requesting their support for Prof. Okowa’s bid.
The highly distinguished Prof. Phoebe Okowa @Phoebe_Okowa, member of the International Law Commission, is Kenya’s nominee for Judge of the International Court of Justice during the election of 2026.@ForeignOfficeKE pic.twitter.com/CGDFUNJSYa
— Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) March 1, 2025
“The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Djibouti to the United Nations, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Eastern African Sub-region on Candidatures, and has the honour to inform of the nomination of Professor Phoebe Okowa by the Kenya National Group to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) for election as a Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the elections to be held at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council in 2026,” the letter read in part.
The Kenyan government has also voiced trust in Okowa’s ability and qualifications, claiming that she is well-suited to contribute to the work of the International Criminal Court.
“The government of the Republic of Kenya is convinced that Professor Okowa is competent and well qualified to contribute to the work of the ICJ,” the statement read.
PS Sing’oei, in his statement, also expressed trust in Okowa, a member of the International Law Commission, describing her as a very accomplished academic.
Kenya has nominated Prof Phoebe Okowa, a member of the International Law Commission, as its candidate for a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the 2026 elections.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) March 1, 2025
The Permanent Mission of Kenya has formally requested support from the African Group for her… pic.twitter.com/cMlB0s4Cy0
“The highly distinguished Prof. Phoebe Okowa @Phoebe_Okowa, member of the International Law Commission, is Kenya’s nominee for Judge of the International Court of Justice during the election of 2026,” Sing’oei stated.
She is responsible for drafting, researching, and expanding international law for the UN.
Professor Okowa’s Career
In 2021, Okowa made waves when she was nominated as Kenya’s candidate for election to the United Nations’ International Law Commission.
She had battled against other candidates from all across the world for the International Law Commission position.
Okowa formerly served on the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague before joining the UN.
She had been assigned to Kenya’s legal team in the maritime dispute against Somalia before the International Court of Justice.
She also works as an advocate for Kenya’s High Court and teaches international law at the United Nations. She has also written several academic articles and books.
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Okowa is the director of graduate studies at Queen Mary University of London, where she also holds a chair in public international law.
She is also an arbitrator for the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, having been appointed in 2017.
The acclaimed professor began her legal career at the University of Nairobi, where she finished first in her class with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) with First Class Honours.
She has taught law in various positions at institutions such as Bristol, Lille, Helsinki, Stockholm, and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center for Global Constitutionalism.
PROF. PHOEBE OKOWA: Kenya’s Nominee To The International Court of Justice
