Ruto Nominates Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u for ICC Judgeship
President William Ruto has put forward Supreme Court Justice Njoki Ndung’u as Kenya’s nominee for a position on the bench of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The announcement sets the stage for her to vie in the December 2026 elections for ICC judges, where she will face competition from candidates nominated by countries including Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Switzerland, Japan, and Colombia. Justice Ndung’u, who has served on Kenya’s highest court since its establishment in 2011, is widely recognized for her involvement in landmark constitutional cases, most notably the 2017 presidential election petition that resulted in the nullification of the original vote and the directive for a repeat election.
Should she secure the seat, Justice Ndung’u would join the ICC’s panel of judges responsible for adjudicating some of the most serious international crimes, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, under the framework of the Rome Statute. Her nomination arrives during a period of significant judicial transitions in Kenya, as the Supreme Court grapples with an existing vacancy left by the passing of Justice Mohamed Ibrahim, with the Judicial Service Commission currently reviewing applications to fill that role ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The selection highlights Kenya’s continued commitment to global accountability mechanisms and underscores confidence in Justice Ndung’u’s judicial record, which emphasizes integrity, independence, and expertise in complex legal matters. While specific reactions from political or legal figures were not immediately reported, the move aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s representation in international institutions as domestic judicial reforms progress.
