President William Ruto has stepped up Kenya’s campaign to secure a seat at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u by seeking support from African leaders, including Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai.
Ruto made the request during a meeting with President Boakai at State House in Nairobi ahead of the Africa Forward Summit set to bring together several heads of state. The President openly appealed for Liberia’s backing in Ndung’u’s bid for election to the ICC bench.
The lobbying effort comes as the ICC prepares to elect six new judges during the Assembly of States Parties meeting scheduled for December 2026 in New York. Kenya is now aggressively campaigning to ensure Justice Ndung’u secures one of the highly competitive positions.
Hours after meeting the Liberian leader, Ruto also held talks with Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, where discussions reportedly touched on the Kenyan judge’s candidature.
The government has described the campaign as a national effort involving both the Executive and the Judiciary. Earlier this month, Ruto reportedly held consultations with Chief Justice Martha Koome, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and other senior officials to coordinate support for Ndung’u’s bid.
Justice Njoki Ndung’u is one of Kenya’s most prominent legal figures. She previously served as a nominated MP, played a major role in drafting the Sexual Offences Act, and was part of the team that helped craft the 2010 Constitution. She has also worked with the African Union and UNHCR on legal and human rights matters.
If elected, Ndung’u would join the 18-member ICC bench in The Hague, which handles serious international crimes including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The campaign is particularly significant given Kenya’s complicated history with the ICC, where President Ruto himself once faced charges related to the 2007/2008 post-election violence before the case collapsed.
Overall, Kenya’s diplomatic push signals a determined effort to strengthen its influence within international justice systems while positioning Justice Ndung’u as one of Africa’s leading candidates for the global court.