Kenya has intensified its campaign to secure the election of Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u as a Judge of the International Criminal Court following the inaugural meeting of an inter-ministerial committee established to support her candidature.
The meeting, held on Tuesday is part of a whole-of-government strategy, as Nairobi enters the final six-month countdown to the ICC judicial elections for the 2027–2036 term.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei said the government, judiciary and Kenya’s diplomatic missions abroad were working in a coordinated manner to rally international backing for Justice Ndung’u’s bid.
“As we enter the critical six-month countdown to the elections, our whole-of-government team, joining forces with the Judiciary and our key missions, is unified and strategically coordinated,” Sing’Oei said.
He described Justice Ndung’u as an exceptional candidate whose legal expertise and judicial experience place her among the strongest contenders for the position.
Justice Ndung’u currently serves at Kenya’s Supreme Court and is widely recognised for her contributions to constitutional law, gender justice and legal reform. Before joining the judiciary, she played a key role in shaping Kenya’s legislative framework, including championing landmark laws on sexual offences during her tenure as a senator.
Her judicial career has also seen her participate in major constitutional and public interest cases that have shaped Kenya’s legal landscape.
If elected, Justice Ndung’u would become the first Kenyan and the first Kenyan woman to serve as a judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The ICC is the world’s permanent international court mandated to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Judges of the court are elected by member states of the Rome Statute through a competitive international voting process that considers regional representation, gender balance and expertise in international and criminal law.
Kenya formally nominated Justice Ndung’u after an internal selection process that evaluated candidates based on judicial experience, integrity, expertise in international law and diplomatic suitability for the global role.
Her nomination has been viewed by officials as an opportunity for Kenya to strengthen its influence in international justice systems and showcase the country’s legal and judicial expertise on the global stage.
The foreign affairs docket seeks to intensify diplomatic engagements with African and international partners ahead of the elections as part of efforts to secure enough votes for her election to the court.
