President William Ruto has nominated Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung'u as Kenya’s candidate for election to the bench of the International Criminal Court. The nomination places the veteran jurist among several global candidates seeking to serve at the international tribunal.
The election for new ICC judges will take place during the 25th session of the Assembly of States Parties. The meeting is scheduled to run from December 7 to December 17, 2026, in New York. During the session, member states of the court will vote to fill six vacant judicial positions on the ICC bench.
Justice Ndung’u secured the nomination after the Judicial Service Commission recommended her name to the President for consideration. The commission reviewed potential candidates before forwarding its recommendation to the Head of State.
If elected, Ndung’u will join the panel of international judges responsible for handling some of the world’s most serious crimes. The ICC deals with cases involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
The Kenyan judge will compete with several other nominees from different regions across the world. The candidates include Deo John Nangela from Tanzania, Rosette Muzigo from Uganda, Everlyn Ankumah from Ghana, Guénaël Mettraux from Switzerland, Yoshimitsu Yamauchi from Japan, and Diana Carolina Olarte from Colombia.
Justice Ndung’u has served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya since June 16, 2011. She ranks among the longest-serving members currently sitting on the country’s apex court.
Her nomination signals Kenya’s bid to secure representation in the global judicial body that oversees accountability for serious international crimes. The final decision will depend on voting by ICC member states during the Assembly of States Parties meeting later this year.
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