Kenya launches final diplomatic push to secure Phoebe Okowa's ICJ seat until 2036

Kenya launches final diplomatic push to secure Phoebe Okowa's ICJ seat until 2036 - Professor Phoebe Okowa addresses delegates during a final engagement in New York as Kenya wraps up its campaign for her full term at the ICJ. (Photo: MFDA)

Nairobi has concluded its months-long diplomatic campaign, seeking UN backing to retain the Kenyan judge at the International Court of Justice for a full nine-year term after her historic election in 2025.

Kenya has intensified its diplomatic push to secure a full nine-year term for Professor Phoebe Okowa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the country prepares for a high-stakes election at the United Nations.

The months-long campaign for the 2027–2036 term culminated this week in a high-level reception in New York, where Kenya made its final appeal to UN member states to support her candidature.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said the final push was aimed at shifting the focus beyond academic and professional credentials to the principles and qualities needed to shape the world's highest court.

“Our submissions urged the members of the UN present to reflect on the kind of Court our international community needs; the principles that must guide its composition; and the qualities required of those entrusted with interpreting and applying international law at this consequential moment in our shared history,” Sing’Oei posted on X.

“Prof Okowa answers these demanding standards admirably, and we commended her candidature to all.”

Kenya is not seeking to secure a seat for an untested candidate. Professor Okowa is already serving on the ICJ bench at The Hague, having made history as the first Kenyan to join the court.

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She was elected on November 12, 2025, after four rounds of voting, to complete the remainder of the term previously held by Judge Abdulqawi A. Yusuf, which runs until February 5, 2027.

Her election also made her only the eighth woman to serve on the ICJ bench.

Now, Nairobi wants to turn her historic interim appointment into a full nine-year term, which would keep her on the court until 2036.

A test of diplomatic muscle

Securing a seat on the ICJ is about more than legal expertise. The election is also a major test of a country's diplomatic influence and ability to build international alliances.

Candidates must secure an absolute majority in both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, making the process dependent on sustained lobbying, coalition-building and diplomatic engagement.

Kenya's campaign is therefore a significant exercise in its multilateral diplomacy, as Nairobi seeks to strengthen its influence in global governance.

The outcome will determine whether Professor Okowa retains her place on the court for a full term, giving Kenya a continued presence in one of the world's most influential institutions for international justice.