PROF. PHOEBE OKOWA RE-ELECTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE FOR A FULL NINE-YEAR TERM
Kenya’s Phoebe Okowa has been re-elected to the ICJ until 2036 after Sierra Leone backed her to keep Africa’s seat on the world court.
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Kenya’s Professor Phoebe Okowa has been re-elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a full nine-year term after securing the required majority of votes in the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
Okowa will serve on the world court from February 6, 2027, to February 5, 2036, following a closely contested election that required several rounds of voting to fill the final seat.The Kenyan jurist secured 183 votes in the UN General Assembly, while Peru’s candidate, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, received just two votes in the final ballot.
In the 15-member UN Security Council, Okowa secured 13 votes against zero for the Peruvian candidate, comfortably surpassing the required threshold of eight votes.Her victory came after Sierra Leone withdrew its candidate, Professor Charles Chernor Jalloh, and threw its support behind the Kenyan jurist in a move aimed at consolidating African support.
Sierra Leone announced the withdrawal on Tuesday, November 3, after several rounds of voting failed to resolve the contest, with the country’s delegation saying it had decided to back Okowa to retain Africa’s seat on the court.The decision followed an earlier split in African support, with Okowa and Jalloh competing for the same position despite diplomatic efforts to persuade one of the candidates to withdraw.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei welcomed Okowa’s election, saying it reflected the international community’s confidence in her ability to serve the court at a consequential time.
“It is with immense pride that I welcome the election of Judge Phoebe Okowa to the International Court of Justice for the 2027-2036 term,” Sing’Oei said.
President William Ruto also congratulated Okowa, describing her election as a moment of pride for Kenya and an affirmation of the country’s legal expertise and contribution to the international community.“Your election is a moment of great pride for Kenya and a powerful affirmation of the depth of legal expertise, integrity and excellence that our country continues to contribute to the international community,” Ruto said.
The President wished Okowa success in discharging her mandate, saying Kenya was proud of her as she takes up the responsibility of advancing international law and promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes among nations.
Okowa’s election also comes at a time when international courts are facing growing scrutiny, with the ICJ handling high-profile disputes between states while questions persist over compliance with its rulings and the limits of its jurisdiction.
The United States, for instance, withdrew from the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction in 1985 after the court accepted a case brought by Nicaragua, although it remains subject to the court’s jurisdiction in certain treaty-related disputes.
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Written by FRANKLINE NYANDORO
Reporter and staff writer at Getembe News.
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