Kenya's Phoebe Okowa Elected Judge of the International Court of Justice

Kenya is back in the global arena after Professor Phoebe Okowa was elected as one of the judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the main judicial body of the United Nations.

The milestone was announced by the Principal Secretary (PS) of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing'Oei, on Wednesday, November 12 when Professor Okowa was elected by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council following four rounds of ballot voting. The UNGA and UN Security Council have subsequently voted Prof. Phoebe Okowa the correct judge of the International Court of Justice, over three other candidates, according to PS SingOei.

He hailed the victory of Professor Okawa as a key diplomatic and professional win in the country, arguing that it was an indication that Kenya is becoming a stronger force in the international arena of law and governance.

This win indicates faith in the judicial abilities of Prof. Okawa and the reputation of Kenya.

My New York and Geneva teams are first and foremost to be commended, I said. Professor Okawa had been formally nominated to the ICJ post on February 27, 2025, by the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations at New York.

The Kenyan government emphasized in the nomination note her outstanding qualifications, international experience, and academic excellence.

Professional and Academic Excellence.

Professor Phoebe Okowa can be considered as a highly renowned expert and a prominent figure in the field of international law and a scholar of global justice. She is now a Professor of Public International Law and Director of Graduate Studies at Queen Mary University of London, one of the best law schools in the United Kingdom. She started her education at the University of Nairobi, where she was able to graduate top of her class in 1987 with a Bachelor of Laws ( LLB ) degree, which she graduated with First Class Honours.

In 1990, she had a University of Oxford scholarship with the prestigious Foreign and Commonwealth Office Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Law at the university.

Her devotion to law studies led to her to finish her doctoral thesis in 1994 at Oxford University and this solidified her knowledge in the area of public international law.

An International Justice Career of the Equal.

Professor Okawa had earlier worked in various high-profile international positions prior to her election to the ICJ. She was also elected to the International Law Commission (ILC) in 2021 and will serve five years commencing January 1, 2023. The ILC is an important UN body that formulates and codifies international law, and being a member of this important body was a sign of her caliber as one of the leading legal minds in Africa. She has also served in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, where she has assisted in the solution of international disputes between a state, an organization, and a person.

Professor Okawa has been prolific in her career writing about issues of international law, such as state responsibility, environmental law, and the use of force. As a scholar, her articles and activities in international legal organizations have established her as an authoritative voice in the international legal community.

A Source of National Pride

The election of Professor Okawa is a historic milestone to Kenya and the whole of Africa as it establishes the country as a major player in international affairs and governance.

It is hoped that her attendance at the ICJ will enhance Africa in the world court proceedings and bring a more just and accommodating international legal system.

The election of Professor Okawa just as she assumes her new position at The Hague is a tribute to her long-standing interest in the search of justice and the rule of law as well as the promotion of global peace, which is also reflective of the long-standing interest of Kenya in international collaboration.