Opposition vows to refer Ruto to ICC for alleged crimes against humanity

Opposition leaders now say they are compiling evidence to refer President William Ruto to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.

In a joint statement dated June 18, the leaders condemned recent incidents of state-sanctioned violence and extrajudicial killings, citing them as clear violations of both the Constitution and international law.

“We, the United Opposition, have therefore taken action. We have been collecting evidence, and our teams are currently compiling the same to hand over to the ICC Prosecutor. Mr Ruto must answer for his crimes against humanity,” the statement read in part. 

The opposition, comprising Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, and Mukhisa Kituyi, accused the Ruto administration of operating a repressive regime that disregards human rights, in contravention of the Rome Statute, which Kenya ratified.

They condemned the police response to Tuesday’s peaceful protests, where armed officers and suspected hired goons unleashed violence on demonstrators.

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“If it was not evident before, it is now crystal clear that the police have become judge, jury, and executioner; a death squad in uniform,” the statement said.

“What is also now clear is that the Kenya-led Haiti Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission was not a peacekeeping mission, but a benchmarking trip by Ruto on the use of Militia to terrorise a nation on taxpayers' money.” 

They also questioned the deployment of  masked officers without identification badges during protests and the use of live ammunition on unarmed civilians, demanding answers over footage showing some officers looting electronics during Tuesday’s demonstrations.

The opposition called on Kenyans to stand united against what they described as "terror tactics" aimed at silencing, dividing, and demoralising citizens.