President William Ruto, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, officially launched the candidature of Justice Njoki Ndung’u for election as a judge of the International Criminal Court during an event held at State House, Nairobi.

In his address at the State House while moderating the event, the principal secretary in the state department of foreign affairs, Korir Sing’oei, pointed out that Kenya was fielding a candidate with the right attributes to serve in the World Court.

“We present a candidate who, in our view, meets the highest criteria as well as integrity, competence and independence that judges of the world court should possess,” Sing’oei said.

The principal secretary further stated that Kenya’s endorsement of Justice Ndung’u is a testament to the country’s ongoing relations with international partners and member states within the framework of the Rome Statute.

“Today’s event is not only a sign of national endorsement but also a part of a more extensive dialogue with partners and other parties to the Rome Statute,” he stated.

Justice Ndung’u, he added, has a deep understanding of the law and a long and illustrious public service career, thus being very appropriate for her new role at the ICC, where she has contributed a lot to the country’s constitutional and judicial reforms.

Justice Ndung’u was an appointee to the Supreme Court of Kenya in 2011 but had served as a judge at the High Court of Nakuru since 2008. Before her appointment to the bench, she was a nominated member of Parliament and was a leading force in passing the Sexual Offences Act, which enhanced the protection of Kenyans against gender-based violence.

The PS further said that Justice Ndung’u is an outstanding jurist and has extensive experience in constitutional law, human rights and international justice, which makes her well-suited for one of the judicial positions at the Hague-based court.

The State House launch ceremony was attended by several senior government officials; members of the judiciary, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, and representatives from the legal fraternity.

Ruto’s lobbying efforts

The launch of Njoki’s candidature comes after the Africa Forward Summit, in which President William Ruto used the bilateral meetings with African leaders to aggressively lobby for Supreme Court Justice Njoki Ndung’u’s candidature for the position at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Taking to his official X account on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Ruto stepped up his campaign to secure a seat for Kenya at the International Criminal Court.

The summit, themed around “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”, opened on May 11-12, 2026, at the University of Nairobi, bringing together over 30 heads of state, investors, and private sector leaders.

President William Ruto has personally led diplomatic efforts for Justice Njoki Ndung’u on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit.

In his campaign strategy, Ruto has introduced Justice Ndung’u to dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Côte d’Ivoire’s Alassane Ouattara, Liberia’s Joseph Boakai and Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio, in State House, Nairobi.

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, Ruto detailed fruitful discussions with Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara at State House, Nairobi, seeking support for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u in her candidacy for the position of Judge of the International Criminal Court.

“At the multilateral level, we agreed to advance our cooperation. I sought President Ouattara’s support for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u in her candidature for the position of Judge of the International Criminal Court,” Ruto stated.

Election dates

Judges will be elected at the 25th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute to be held in New York in December 2026. This position is expected to begin in March 2027 and last for a period of nine years at the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.