Okowa wins re-election to ICJ after third-round vote
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 3 — Kenya’s Prof. Phoebe Okowa has secured re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a full nine-year term running from 2027 to 2036, bringing…
Kenya's Prof. Phoebe Okowa has secured re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a nine-year term from 2027 to 2036, following a prolonged contest that included multiple rounds of voting at the United Nations. Okowa emerged victorious over Peru's Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza in the third round of voting, with 13 votes from the 15-member United Nations Security Council, compared to her Peruvian rival's zero votes.
The race was narrowed down to a final showdown between Kenya and Peru after the three other candidates withdrew ahead of the last ballot. Sierra Leone played a crucial role in Okowa's victory by withdrawing and supporting her candidacy, emphasizing the importance of African representation on the court. Okowa had initially struggled to secure the required majority in the Security Council but managed to gather enough support to win the election.
Her re-election ensures Kenya's continued presence on the 15-member court for another nine years, beginning on February 6, 2027.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
