Kenya's Phoebe Okowa has been elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice, according to The EastAfrican. The outlet reported the result on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
The ICJ, based in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and settles legal disputes between states. Okowa's election places a Kenyan legal scholar on the bench of the world court.
The EastAfrican's report did not include the vote count, the term length or the date she is due to take up the position. It also did not specify which vacancy her election fills. Those details were not available in the material reviewed.
The report identifies Okowa as Kenyan. No further biographical information about her career or previous posts was included in the summary.
The court's composition is closely watched because its judges hear contentious cases between governments as well as requests for advisory opinions on questions of international law. A judge's nationality does not determine how they rule, but states often track the regional balance of the bench.
What to watch next: the ICJ's official announcement, which should confirm the start date of Okowa's term and the seat she will occupy.