Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, has urged the international community to back Kenya’s bid for a seat at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while also calling for renewed global commitment in combating Al Shabaab in Somalia.

In bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Dr. Mudavadi lobbied Cyprus and Sierra Leone to support the candidacy of Professor Phoebe Okowa, who is vying for election to the ICJ on November 12, 2025, during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

Prof. Phoebe Okowa’s Historic Candidacy

“Kenya is looking for a position within ICJ. We have entered the name of Professor Phoebe Okowa, if you can please give us a consideration,” implored Dr. Mudavadi in his meeting with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba.

While Sierra Leone has also fielded a candidate, H.E Kabba said his country would “consider” Kenya’s request. Cyprus, on the other hand, pledged to back Prof. Okowa’s candidature.

“Kenya has submitted several distinguished candidatures to key international bodies, including the candidature of Prof. Phoebe Okowa for election as Judge of the International Court of Justice, to fill the casual vacancy for the 2025-2027 period,” affirmed Dr. Mudavadi.

The vacancy arose following the resignation of H.E Justice Abdulqwani Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia, who leaves office on September 30, 2025.

If elected, Prof. Okowa would become the first Kenyan to sit on the ICJ bench, which has historically lacked East African representation.

Since 1945, West Africa has produced seven judges, North Africa five, and East Africa only three. Out of 15 current judges, just four are women.

Dr. Mudavadi praised Prof. Okowa’s achievements, noting her historic milestones.

“She is the first African woman to be elected to the International Law Commission, and most recently, on 25th August, Prof. Okowa was inducted into the International Lawyers’ Hall of Fame, becoming the first Kenyan and first African woman to be so honoured,” he said.

Kenya’s Bid for INTERPOL Representation

The Prime CS also appealed for support for Kenya’s candidate to INTERPOL’s Executive Committee.

“Kenya has also presented the candidature of Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Amin for election to INTERPOL’s Executive Committee, as Delegate for Africa for the 2025-2028 term,” said Dr. Mudavadi.

Amin is the current Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation.

Renewed Call on Somalia and Al Shabaab

In addition to lobbying for Kenya’s international representation, Dr. Mudavadi urged Cyprus to prioritize Somalia and the fight against Al Shabaab when it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026.

“There is growing international fatigue because of other conflicts, shift in focus where the international community support has depreciated a lot and countries like Kenya have been left to carry the heavy load in this fight,” said Dr. Mudavadi, highlighting Kenya’s deployment of 3,000 soldiers in Somalia.

“We need to see through this fight against Al Shabaab.” Mudavadi added.

Dr. Mudavadi warned that a Kenyan withdrawal would create a crisis.

“It will be sad that a country that has made progress in combating terrorism and is on the last mile might relapse if not assisted. We should not break the pot at the door when you have carried water all the way from the stream,” he added.

He further observed that the African Union (AU) is overstretched with conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, and South Sudan, stressing the need to reintroduce the Somalia question to the international community.

Cyprus Backs Cooperation with Kenya

During the bilateral meeting, Kenya and Cyprus also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture and livestock development.

H.E Dr. Constantinos Kombos, Cyprus’s Foreign Affairs Minister, agreed that the AU requires more support.

“For instance, I was talking to Cairo the other day and was informed that it has received 35% of refugees from Sudan. If we have to present the Somalia and Al Shabaab issue, we might need to relook at what is new in the toolbox,” Kombos said.

DCI Boss Mohammed Amin. PHOTO/ DCI X.