President Ruto steps up diplomacy with Sierra Leone as Kenya rallies support for Njoki Ndung’u’s ICC bid

President William Ruto has stepped up Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to secure support for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u’s candidacy for a seat at the International Criminal Court, bringing up the issue during bilateral talks with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio ahead of a major continental summit in Nairobi.
Ruto hosted President Bio at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12. The next day, Ruto wrote on X that he had “informed President Bio of Kenya’s candidacy for the position of judge of the International Criminal Court.” We asked him to consider supporting our candidate, Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u. The appeal was part of a larger campaign to secure regional votes ahead of ICC elections.
The leaders of Kenya and Sierra Leone reaffirmed cooperation and shared commitments to pan-Africanism, regional stability, and global governance reforms during their meeting. They also talked about climate action collaboration and Kenya’s push for reforms at the United Nations Security Council, indicating that they agree on several diplomatic priorities other than the judicial contest.
Ruto’s outreach to Sierra Leone comes after a strategy meeting at State House during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed High Court, Environment, and Land Court judges. Chief Justice Martha Koome, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, and Justice Njoki Ndung’u were present at the meeting. Officials described the gathering as part of a coordinated national effort to rally support for the candidate before the ICC vote.
Mudavadi confirmed that the Africa Forward Summit had been planned and that the event would focus on green industrialisation, digital technologies, investment, and innovation. The summit is also expected to end with the Nairobi Declaration, which organisers say will outline collective commitments on those topics.
Justice Njoki Ndung’u has been a member of Kenya’s Supreme Court since 2011, and she is well-known for her contributions to constitutional and criminal law. Her record includes a key role in the drafting of the Sexual Offences Act and contributions to the African Union’s Maputo Protocol on women’s rights, credentials cited by supporters as relevant to serving on the ICC bench.
If elected, Ndung’u would join the Hague-based court’s 18-member bench that adjudicates the most serious international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Nairobi’s diplomatic push demonstrates Kenya’s commitment to gaining continental support for its candidate ahead of the election.