Justice Ben Kioko is a former Judge and Vice President of the African Court on Human & peoples' Rights based in Arusha , Tanzania. He was first elected judge in July 2012 by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). He was re-elected in July 2018. He was elected Vice President by his peers on 5 September 2016, and served for two terms until June 2021.
Prior to joining the Court, Justice Kioko served as The Legal Counsel of the African Union and Director for the unified Central Legal service for the AU, its organs and institutions, including the AU Commission, regional and representative offices.. Before that he served as Chief of Legal Affairs in the Organization of African Unity (OAU) prior to its transformation to AU. He is the longest serving Legal Counsel of the AU.
Justice Kioko is an institutional memory powerhouse on African Union and continental matters and has wide ranging experience in political mediation but also arbitration in international disputes. Justice Kioko has provided post graduate training in various fields including African Union law-making functions, democracy, governance, rule of law, conflict resolution, regional integration, protection of civilians, human rights and is widely published.
He serves in several international advisory boards as well as editorial boards of various international Law Journals. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).
He is the recipient of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), Honorary Member Award for year 2024, which is conferred annually on an individual of American or other nationality who has rendered distinguished contributions or service in the field of international law. The award was given at a ceremony held during the Society’s AGM in Washington DC in April 2024.
Justice Kioko is the 13th African to be bestowed with this honour in the 118 years that this prize has been awarded, since 1906.
Justice Ben Kioko is also a recipient of two prestigious national awards, including Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS).
