President William Ruto today formally launched the election bid of Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u – Supreme Court Judge, as Judge of the International Criminal Court for the 2027–2036 term.
Justice Njoki laid out a bold and compelling vision for what the Court urgently needs: “Courage is the quality that enables judges to uphold the law, resist external pressures, and to defend the Court’s integrity against attempts to transform it into an instrument of politics.” Her candidacy is anchored on five powerful values – courage, pragmatism, efficiency, victim-centred justice and Africa-focused jurisprudence.
On Africa’s place in international justice, Justice Njoki was unequivocal: “The jurisprudence of the ICC to date reflects little or no reference to African case law, African scholarly work, or African jurists and that must change.” She brings 15 years of Supreme Court experience, a career forged across the Judiciary, Legislature, the African Union and the United Nations, and a lifelong commitment to placing victims at the centre of justice. The ICC election is scheduled for December 2026.
