Kenya’s Prof. Phoebe Okowa has won the position of judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Her victory was announced by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei in a statement shared via his official X account on the night of Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

The Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs congratulates Prof. Phoebe Okowa on her election as Judge of the International Court of Justice @CIJ_ICJ after four rounds of voting by both the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

Her victory over three other candidates… pic.twitter.com/4niKNOTNmh

— State Department for Foreign Affairs | Kenya (@ForeignOfficeKE) November 12, 2025

Sing’oei says that Prof. Okowa was elected by both the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Security Council after four rounds of voting, defeating three other candidates.

“After four rounds of voting, Prof Phoebe Okowa has been duly elected by both the UNGA and UN Security Council, a judge of the International Court of Justice @CIJ_ICJ, defeating three other candidates,” Sing’oei stated.

Sing’oei also lauded Okowa’s victory, noting that it demonstrated confidence in her judicial competence and Kenya’s standing.

He further commended Kenya’s New York and Geneva teams for leading the charge that saw Prof. Okowa elected.

“This victory demonstrates confidence in Prof. Okowa’s judicial competence and Kenya’s standing. I commend our New York and Geneva Teams for leading the charge,” he stated.

Okowa’s nomination

Okowa was nominated in March 2025 as Kenya’s candidate for the position of Judge of the ICJ.

A letter shared by Sing’oei on Saturday, March 1, 2025, showed that the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations had formally communicated the nomination to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Djibouti, which coordinates Eastern Africa’s candidatures.

In the letter, Kenya had requested the support of African Group member states for Prof. Okowa’s bid.

“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.

Kenya’s confidence in Okowa

The Kenyan government had further expressed confidence in Okowa’s competence and qualifications, stating that she is well-suited to contribute to the work of the ICJ.

“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 confidence in Okowa, who is a member of the International Law Commission, terming her a highly distinguished professor.

“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.