Ruto Sends This Message After Okowa Secures Another Nine-Year Term at the ICJ

Ruto Congratulates Phoebe Okowa After Winning Fresh Nine-Year ICJ Term

President William Ruto has congratulated Professor Phoebe Okowa after she secured a fresh nine-year term as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking another major achievement for Kenya on the international stage.

Okowa won the seat following a competitive election held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. She secured the required support from both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, allowing her to serve a full term from 2027 to 2036.

Her election followed several rounds of voting, as candidates competed for positions on the 15-member court. The process required each candidate to obtain an absolute majority in both UN bodies.

President Ruto welcomed the victory, describing it as a proud moment for Kenya and a sign of the international community’s confidence in Okowa’s professional experience, legal knowledge and integrity.

Kenya had conducted an intensive diplomatic campaign to support her re-election. The campaign was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei playing a key role in engaging UN member states and seeking support for her candidature.

Okowa first joined the ICJ in November 2025 after being elected to fill the vacancy left by Somali judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, who resigned before completing his term.

Her latest victory gives her a full nine-year mandate, which will begin on February 6, 2027, and end in February 2036.

Professor Okowa is a respected Kenyan legal scholar and an expert in public international law. She teaches at Queen Mary University of London and has more than three decades of experience in legal research, teaching and international legal practice.

Her election in 2025 made her the first Kenyan to serve on the ICJ bench and one of the few women to hold the position.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, Netherlands, settles legal disputes between countries and provides advisory opinions on international legal matters.

Her re-election is a significant achievement for Kenya and strengthens the country’s presence in international judicial institutions.

JJ—news feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com