Professor Phoebe Okowa has secured a full nine-year term at the International Court of Justice.
The Kenyan jurist secured majorities in both UN voting bodies to serve a full nine-year term beginning in February 2027.
Kenya’s Professor Phoebe Okowa has won re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a full nine-year term. She secured the required majorities in both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
Her term will run from February 6, 2027, to February 5, 2036. The closely contested election required several voting rounds before the two UN bodies filled the final seat.
Phoebe Okowa secures decisive final vote
Okowa received 183 votes in the General Assembly, while Peru’s Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza secured two. In the 15-member Security Council, the Kenyan jurist won 13 votes against none for the Peruvian candidate. That result comfortably exceeded the eight-vote threshold.
Her victory followed Sierra Leone’s withdrawal of Professor Charles Chernor Jalloh and its decision to support her candidacy. The country announced the move on Tuesday, November 3, after repeated voting rounds failed to settle the contest.
Sierra Leone’s delegation said it backed Okowa to help retain Africa’s seat on the court. Earlier, African support had split between the two candidates despite diplomatic efforts to persuade one to withdraw. The withdrawal therefore brought Sierra Leone’s support behind the Kenyan candidate for the final contest.
Kenyan leaders welcome nine-year term
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei welcomed the result, expressing pride in Okowa’s election for the 2027–2036 term. He also said the outcome reflected international confidence in her ability to serve the court at a consequential time.
President William Ruto congratulated Okowa, describing her election as a source of national pride. He said it affirmed Kenya’s legal expertise, integrity and contribution to the international community. Ruto also wished her success in advancing international law and promoting peaceful dispute resolution among nations.
Meanwhile, the election comes as international courts face growing scrutiny over their work and authority. The ICJ handles high-profile disputes between states, while questions persist over compliance with its rulings and jurisdictional limits.
The United States withdrew from the court’s compulsory jurisdiction in 1985 after it accepted Nicaragua’s case. However, the US remains subject to ICJ jurisdiction in certain disputes involving treaties.
