Kenya's Phoebe Okowa elected ICJ Judge for nine-year term

Kenyan scholar Prof Phoebe Okowa who was elected as an ICJ judge on November 3, 2026. [Courtesy, ICJ]

Kenya’s Prof Phoebe Okowa has been elected a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after securing the required majority votes in both the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council.

Okowa will serve a nine-year term at the world court following a closely contested election in which Sierra Leone withdrew its candidate, Prof Charles Jalloh, and threw its support behind the Kenyan legal scholar.

Sierra Leone’s decision was aimed at consolidating African support for Okowa’s bid after the second round of voting exposed divisions in the continent’s backing for the remaining seat.

During the second round, Okowa secured 87 votes in the UN General Assembly but received only four in the Security Council, leaving her candidature unresolved.

Announcing the withdrawal, Sierra Leone’s representative to the United Nations said the government had decided to abandon Jalloh’s candidature and give its full backing to Okowa.

The envoy urged African countries to unite behind the Kenyan candidate, warning that continued divisions could cost the continent representation on the world court.

“If Africa’s vote stays divided, the continent risks losing even the one seat now open to it and falling further below its already inadequate share. Sierra Leone will not let that happen,” the envoy told the General Assembly.

Under the ICJ election procedure, candidates must secure an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council to be elected. The two organs vote independently to fill vacancies on the court.