Kenya Pushes Justice Njoki Ndungu for ICC Judgeship with Strong Presidential Backing and Diplomatic Campaign
Quote from Lawyer on May 14, 2026, 6:38 amPresident William Ruto has strongly endorsed Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndungu as Kenya's candidate for a judgeship at the International Criminal Court, describing her as one of the country's most accomplished jurists. During the official launch of her candidature at State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, the President urged her to uphold Kenya's core values of justice, fairness, and judicial independence on the global stage.
Ruto stated that Kenya stands before the international community not only to support a candidate but to advance the cause of international justice by nominating a highly qualified judge for the 2027 to 2036 term. He emphasized that the country's backing of global justice mechanisms rests on principles of fairness, independence, and equal application of the law. The President warned that international courts risk losing credibility when perceived as selective or swayed by geopolitical interests.
He further stressed the importance of Africa playing a more prominent role in shaping international justice systems. The continent, he noted, has both experienced challenges and offered valuable insights on accountability, constitutional reforms, and peacebuilding efforts. After reviewing Justice Ndungu's presentation, Ruto expressed full confidence in her suitability for the position.
Justice Njoki Ndungu accepted the nomination and outlined her vision for the role. Her candidature centers on judicial independence, courage, pragmatism, efficiency, victim-centered justice, and an Africa-focused approach. Drawing from her experience on Kenya's highest court, she highlighted her deep knowledge of constitutional and international criminal law, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding human dignity and supporting victims of grave offenses.
She underscored the necessity for judges to demonstrate courage amid political pressures and pointed to her distinguished judicial and legislative background as proof of her commitment to principled decision-making. Additional priorities she mentioned include enhancing the efficiency of the ICC, improving victim participation, and fostering better collaboration between international and domestic justice systems.
The Kenyan government has initiated a comprehensive diplomatic effort to secure support for her bid ahead of the ICC elections set for December 2026 in New York. The campaign targets states parties to the Rome Statute. On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, President Ruto introduced Justice Ndungu to various heads of state and officials, including leaders from France, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Madagascar, Eswatini, Egypt, Chad, Comoros, Botswana, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia, as well as representatives from the African Union Commission and the International Finance Corporation.
Supporters describe Justice Ndungu as one of Africa's most seasoned legal minds. Her contributions include helping to shape Kenya's constitutional framework following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and advancing gender justice through key legislation such as the Sexual Offences Act. Her expertise positions her well to address cases involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression at the ICC.
The candidature is framed as both a national endeavor and a continental opportunity to amplify Africa's influence in global justice institutions. France and Sierra Leone, among others engaged, are parties to the Rome Statute, adding strategic weight to the outreach.
This marks Kenya's continued engagement with the ICC. The country previously had Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch serving as a judge from 2009 to 2018. An earlier nomination of Lady Justice Wanjiru Karanja was withdrawn in 2023 for strategic considerations. The current process began in January 2026 when the Attorney General initiated it, followed by a competitive selection exercise conducted by the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission. Justice Ndungu was formally nominated by President Ruto in February 2026 through Chief of Staff Felix Koskei.
The launch and diplomatic push signal Kenya's proactive stance in promoting equitable and robust international accountability structures.
President William Ruto has strongly endorsed Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndungu as Kenya's candidate for a judgeship at the International Criminal Court, describing her as one of the country's most accomplished jurists. During the official launch of her candidature at State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, the President urged her to uphold Kenya's core values of justice, fairness, and judicial independence on the global stage.
Ruto stated that Kenya stands before the international community not only to support a candidate but to advance the cause of international justice by nominating a highly qualified judge for the 2027 to 2036 term. He emphasized that the country's backing of global justice mechanisms rests on principles of fairness, independence, and equal application of the law. The President warned that international courts risk losing credibility when perceived as selective or swayed by geopolitical interests.
He further stressed the importance of Africa playing a more prominent role in shaping international justice systems. The continent, he noted, has both experienced challenges and offered valuable insights on accountability, constitutional reforms, and peacebuilding efforts. After reviewing Justice Ndungu's presentation, Ruto expressed full confidence in her suitability for the position.
Justice Njoki Ndungu accepted the nomination and outlined her vision for the role. Her candidature centers on judicial independence, courage, pragmatism, efficiency, victim-centered justice, and an Africa-focused approach. Drawing from her experience on Kenya's highest court, she highlighted her deep knowledge of constitutional and international criminal law, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding human dignity and supporting victims of grave offenses.
She underscored the necessity for judges to demonstrate courage amid political pressures and pointed to her distinguished judicial and legislative background as proof of her commitment to principled decision-making. Additional priorities she mentioned include enhancing the efficiency of the ICC, improving victim participation, and fostering better collaboration between international and domestic justice systems.
The Kenyan government has initiated a comprehensive diplomatic effort to secure support for her bid ahead of the ICC elections set for December 2026 in New York. The campaign targets states parties to the Rome Statute. On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, President Ruto introduced Justice Ndungu to various heads of state and officials, including leaders from France, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Madagascar, Eswatini, Egypt, Chad, Comoros, Botswana, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia, as well as representatives from the African Union Commission and the International Finance Corporation.
Supporters describe Justice Ndungu as one of Africa's most seasoned legal minds. Her contributions include helping to shape Kenya's constitutional framework following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and advancing gender justice through key legislation such as the Sexual Offences Act. Her expertise positions her well to address cases involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression at the ICC.
The candidature is framed as both a national endeavor and a continental opportunity to amplify Africa's influence in global justice institutions. France and Sierra Leone, among others engaged, are parties to the Rome Statute, adding strategic weight to the outreach.
This marks Kenya's continued engagement with the ICC. The country previously had Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch serving as a judge from 2009 to 2018. An earlier nomination of Lady Justice Wanjiru Karanja was withdrawn in 2023 for strategic considerations. The current process began in January 2026 when the Attorney General initiated it, followed by a competitive selection exercise conducted by the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission. Justice Ndungu was formally nominated by President Ruto in February 2026 through Chief of Staff Felix Koskei.
The launch and diplomatic push signal Kenya's proactive stance in promoting equitable and robust international accountability structures.