President William Ruto has nominated Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u as Kenya’s candidate for the upcoming election of judges to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The election is scheduled for December this year and will see candidates from different countries compete for positions at the global court based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Ndung’u, who has served as a judge of the Supreme Court since 2011, will represent Kenya in the highly competitive process that brings together experienced legal professionals from across the world.
Other nominees seeking election to the ICC bench include Deo John Nangela from Tanzania, Rosette Muzigo from Uganda, Everlyn Ankumah from Ghana, Guénaël Mettraux from Switzerland, Yoshimitsu Yamauchi, and Diana Carolina Olarte from Colombia.
Justice Ndung’u has served in Kenya’s top court for more than a decade and was among the inaugural judges appointed when the Supreme Court was established under the 2010 Constitution.
She was nominated to the position by the Judicial Service Commission and formally assumed office on August 26, 2011.
During her time on the Supreme Court bench, Ndung’u has been part of several landmark rulings that have shaped the country’s legal and constitutional landscape.
Among the most notable cases she participated in was the 2017 presidential election petition, where the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election results and ordered a repeat poll.
Before joining the Judiciary, Ndung’u also served as a Member of Parliament during the 9th Parliament after being elected under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) party between 2003 and 2007.
If elected to the ICC, Ndung’u will be tasked with presiding over cases involving some of the most serious international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Her nomination comes at a time when Kenya is gradually approaching the 2027 General Election, a period that often sees the Judiciary playing a critical role in resolving electoral disputes.
Should Ndung’u secure the international position, her departure from the Supreme Court would temporarily reduce the number of judges in the apex court.
The development also comes as the Judicial Service Commission continues with the process of recruiting another Supreme Court judge following the death of Justice Mohamed Ibrahim in December last year after a long illness.
The Commission has already confirmed that six candidates applied for the vacant position after the application deadline closed in February.
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