Kenya has intensified its diplomatic push to secure a seat at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung’u, with top government and judicial leaders closing ranks behind her candidacy.
During a meeting held on the sidelines of a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed judges at State House, President William Ruto convened a high-level strategy session with Chief Justice Martha Koome, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
The meeting, though brief, underscored a unified national effort to back Justice Ndung’u’s bid for one of the 18 judgeships at the Hague-based court.
Observers say the alignment of both the Executive and Judiciary signals the importance Kenya attaches to the campaign, positioning it as a national, rather than partisan, undertaking.
Justice Ndung’u, a member of the Supreme Court since its establishment in 2011, has played a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s constitutional and criminal jurisprudence in the post-2010 era.
Her judicial record includes contributions to landmark rulings that have defined the country’s evolving legal landscape.
Before her appointment to the bench, Ndung’u earned recognition as the principal architect of the Sexual Offences Act, legislation that significantly reformed Kenya’s legal response to gender-based violence and strengthened protections for survivors.
Her influence extends beyond Kenya.
She contributed to the development of the Maputo Protocol, a landmark African Union instrument advancing women’s rights across the continent.
If successful, her election would mark a significant milestone, placing a Kenyan jurist at the heart of international criminal justice and adding an African voice with deep experience in constitutional law and human rights to the ICC bench.
Kenya’s campaign for the position remains ongoing, with diplomatic engagements expected to continue in the lead-up to the selection process.
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