Kenya Nominates Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u for ICC Bench

Kenya has nominated Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung’u for election to the bench of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She is one of seven candidates seeking a judicial seat in elections scheduled to take place in New York from 7 to 17 December. Ndung’u has served on Kenya’s Supreme Court since 2011, when she was appointed as part of the court’s inaugural bench. During her tenure, she has participated in several major decisions, including the ruling that annulled Kenya’s 2017 presidential election.

Her legal career spans more than two decades and includes extensive work in constitutional and human rights law. Before joining the judiciary, Ndung’u served as a Member of Parliament from 2003 to 2007 under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC), where she took part in legislative reform efforts.

The list of candidates reflects gender and regional diversity. Four of the nominees are women and three are men. Africa is represented by candidates from Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania, while the other nominees come from Japan, Colombia, and Switzerland.

Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, judges must demonstrate high moral character, impartiality, and integrity. They must also hold qualifications comparable to those required for the highest judicial offices in their home countries.

Judges are elected by the Assembly of States Parties, which considers professional experience as well as regional representation. If elected, Ndung’u would take part in hearings and decisions involving allegations of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.