Kenya’s united opposition coalition has announced plans to file a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President William Ruto, accusing his administration of crimes against humanity, extrajudicial killings, and collusion with foreign and domestic militia groups.
In a strongly worded statement released Wednesday, the opposition accused the government of overseeing “brazen shooting of unarmed citizens” during recent protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). The demonstrations, sparked by demands for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General, Eliud Lagat, turned deadly on Tuesday as anti-riot police reportedly opened fire on protesters.
The statement, signed by prominent opposition leaders Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, Mukhisa Kituyi, and Saitoti Torome, painted a grim picture of state-sanctioned violence and suppression of dissent. “The National Police Service has become judge, jury, and executioner under a paranoid and repressive regime,” it said.
The opposition claimed that rogue police units, working in tandem with unidentified militia gangs, have been deployed to violently quell public dissent. They likened the tactics to Haiti-style death squads and alleged that the government’s involvement in the Haiti-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission was a cover for studying militia-style control tactics.
“What is now clear is the Kenya-led Haiti MSS Mission was not a peacekeeping mission, but a benchmarking trip by Ruto on the use of militia to terrorize a nation on taxpayers’ money,” the statement read.
The leaders also raised alarm over masked officers without identification badges, the use of live ammunition on peaceful protesters, and alleged police involvement in looting. They linked firearms used by Kenyan police to weapons reportedly supplied to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), suggesting a cross-border trail of illegal arms transfers enabled by the Kenyan state.
The death of activist and teacher Albert Ojwang was cited as a key example of impunity, with the opposition accusing senior police commanders of lying to Parliament about the circumstances surrounding his killing.
Calling the Ruto administration a “regime reliant on bullets and lies,” the opposition said it has been collecting evidence for submission to the ICC in The Hague, urging the international community to intervene.
“It is clear the Ruto regime has waged war against fundamental human rights with calculated vengeance,” the statement added. “These acts have resulted in countless deaths both in Kenya and Sudan.”
The opposition concluded by urging citizens to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice: “Do not be afraid or intimidated. The will of the people shall prevail, and the courage of Albert Ojwang and countless others will not be in vain.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
