“When it comes to international law, the world operates as if it’s in a group project.” 

These are the words of Sandra Bucha, an alumna of Strathmore Law School, class of 2018, currently serving as International Justice in Africa Associate at Amnesty International. With a foundation in public international law, human rights and international criminal justice, Sandra has worked across East Africa and contributed to global legal and policy discussions through engagements with institutions including the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, the International Law Commission, and the International Court of Justice, where she served as a Judicial Fellow.

Sandra became only the second Kenyan ever to serve as a Judicial Fellow at the ICJ, the first nominated through a Kenyan university, and the first from Strathmore Law School, after several unsuccessful attempts by the faculty.

Journey to Law

“My love for law is something that started before joining SLS,” Sandra recalls. “I remember there was this time refugees were taken to Kasarani, and I believed the treatment they received was really unfair.” 

Sandra refers to the 2014 security sweep in Kenya, where Kasarani Stadium was repurposed as a mass screening center. During the national security crackdown, a large number of refugees and asylum seekers were rounded up and held in the stands for days. This incident changed her perspective on the state’s power and fragility of human dignity during moments of national crisis. Sandra therefore believed from that early age that no person should lose their dignity nor be subjected to a non-permissible violation of their rights. That belief stayed with her and would later shape her academic interests and professional path, leading her to pursue law at Strathmore Law School. 

While at SLS, Sandra joined mooting as a student activity and stood out in the field. She was part of the team that made history by securing the school’s first ever international victory at the All Africa International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition. Her journey in mooting continued through competitions such as the All Kenya Moot Court Competition and the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition, where SLS emerged as global winners in 2025. 

Despite her success on the podium, Sandra believed that being a good dancer means knowing when to leave the stage. She therefore stepped away from active competition to help coach younger mooters.

The Dreams Unfolding

After graduating, Sandra pursued a Master of Arts in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute, during which she had a stint at the World Trade Organization (WTO). She later worked with the International Law Commission (ILC), contributing to the codification and development of international law. 

When SLS submitted another application for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship, Sandra became the fourth candidate from the institution to try for the position. This time, the application was successful. She therefore joined the ICJ as a Judicial Fellow, becoming the second Kenyan ever to hold the role and the first appointed through a Kenyan university. 

Years after sitting among SLS students during an academic trip to The Hague and visiting the ICJ as a student, Sandra found herself standing before another delegation of SLS students inside the Court, this time as the person explaining its work and processes to them.

“It was such a full circle moment for me,” Sandra says.

“Speaking in the Great Hall of Justice as an alumna and talking to Strathmore Law School students, just as someone once did for me, made me really proud.”

At the ICJ, Sandra supported judicial deliberations through drafting bench memoranda and legal briefs, conducted research on complex international law issues including climate change and genocide,  and helped coordinate the Court’s caseload within the Vice President’s Chambers.

Decisions and Opportunities That Shaped Her Path

Sandra credits much of her global outlook to the exposure she received at SLS. While many students aspire to work in institutions such as the ICJ or WTO, she notes that few fully understand what it takes to get there.

“As much as hard work matters, some of it is also luck,” Sandra says. “But you have to increase the surface area for luck to find you.”

For Sandra, genuine interest and expertise in a subject area really matters.

“I think what these institutions look for is interest in the subject matter. You need to go beyond surface level knowledge. You need to build expertise.”

One of her greatest reflections comes from navigating international spaces as an African woman.

“As a Black woman, the world will never be shy of opportunities to tell me no. So I refuse to be the one who tells myself no.”

As someone who enjoys research, Sandra says her time at the ICJ reinforced just how important rigorous legal research is in international law.

“You have to understand the legal position and also go back to see how the court has ruled before and the examples it has relied on.”

How Legal Frameworks Hold Up Against Global Challenges

Sandra describes international law as a system shaped by compromise, rather than perfect outcomes. 

For her, international law exists in constant interaction with politics. “The law does not exist in a vacuum. Every state has its own interests, and international law operates within an existing world order, so the court can only do as much as the international system allows.”

A firm believer in South-South Corporation and Regional Integration, Sandra argues that African states must gain control over their own resources. “We enjoy sovereignty in theory, but in practice, foreign companies still dictate how resources are managed. ”

The Strathmore Effect!

“Strathmore students are very hardworking. Anywhere Strathmore students go, their hard work sets them apart.” Sandra says. “We may complain about the dress code, but on the first day of work, nobody will ever fault a Strathmore student for not showing up properly dressed.”

Despite working in very demanding international justice spaces, Sandra believes justice work is collective and requires humility. “You are not a savior,” she insists. “You are simply one contributor among many.”

For her, the mission is to ensure that Africans move beyond being participants in international law and become the ones leading and shaping the conversation. 

Article written by Evans Ijakaa.