Opposition Vows To Take Ruto to ICC Over Extrajudicial Killings, Abductions and Links to Sudan Militia

Kenya’s United Opposition coalition has announced plans to file a case against President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court, accusing his administration of orchestrating extrajudicial killings, deploying rogue police units, and forming illegal alliances with militia groups reminiscent of Haiti’s death squads.

The opposition’s bombshell announcement comes amid escalating tensions following a series of violent incidents during recent protests, including the controversial shooting of 22-year-old street vendor Boniface Kariuki by a masked police officer on June 17, 2025.

The current crisis was triggered by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody on June 8, 2025. Initially reported as a suicide by authorities, an independent autopsy revealed that Ojwang died from physical assault, directly contradicting the official police account and sparking widespread public anger.

The revelation has intensified scrutiny of Kenya’s law enforcement agencies and their handling of civilians, with activists and opposition leaders demanding accountability for what they describe as a pattern of state-sponsored violence.

## Graphic Police Shooting Captured on Video

The situation reached a boiling point during protests on June 17, when Boniface Kariuki was shot in the head at close range by a masked police officer. The incident, captured on video by an Associated Press photographer, has since gone viral and intensified public outrage against police brutality.

The 22-year-old Kariuki, a hawker like his father, was holding a packet of face masks and is believed to have been caught up in a confrontation with two officers in Nairobi as hundreds of protesters clashed with police. One officer, who had concealed his face with a mask, shot him in the head, according to reports.

Kariuki remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he has undergone surgery. His father has demanded accountability for the officer involved, while the National Police Service has since suspended two officers in connection with the shooting.

Opposition’s Sweeping Accusations

In a strongly worded joint statement released on Wednesday, June 18, the United Opposition coalition, led by prominent figures including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Justin Muturi, outlined serious allegations against the Ruto administration.

The opposition has accused the government of:

State-Sponsored Violence: The coalition claims the National Police Service has been transformed into “judge, jury, and executioner” under what they describe as a “paranoid and repressive regime.”

Militia Collaboration: Perhaps most controversially, the opposition alleges that police are working in coordination with militia groups similar to Haiti’s armed gangs to violently suppress protests and dissent.

International Arms Trafficking: The coalition has made explosive claims linking firearms used by Kenyan police to weapons allegedly supplied by the Ruto government to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

Haiti Connection: The opposition suggests that Kenya’s leadership of the Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission was not a peacekeeping effort but rather “a benchmarking trip by Ruto on the use of militia to terrorize a nation on taxpayers’ money.”

Evidence Collection for ICC Case

The United Opposition has revealed that it has been systematically collecting evidence to present to the International Criminal Court, seeking to have President Ruto held accountable for alleged crimes against humanity.

“The United Opposition has announced plans to collect evidence and submit it to the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging the prosecutor to investigate what they describe as crimes against humanity committed by the Kenyan government,” the coalition stated.

The opposition argues that the regime’s actions contravene both Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and international laws, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which Kenya has signed and ratified.

This is not the first time President Ruto has faced potential ICC scrutiny.

He previously faced charges at the ICC related to Kenya’s 2007-2008 post-election violence, when he served as a government minister.

However, those charges were ultimately dropped in 2016 after key witnesses withdrew their testimony or died under mysterious circumstances.

The opposition’s current push comes against a backdrop of what human rights organizations describe as ongoing concerns about extrajudicial killings and police brutality in Kenya.

As in 2024, Kenya also experienced protests in 2023 in response to tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2023. President Ruto signed the 2023 bill into law despite a parliamentary report showing more than 90 percent of Kenyans opposed it, according to Human Rights Watch.

The Ruto administration has not yet issued a comprehensive response to the opposition’s allegations.

However, the National Police Service has taken action in the Kariuki case, suspending the two officers involved and launching an investigation.

The dramatic nature of the allegations, particularly those linking the Kenyan government to international arms trafficking and militia collaboration, is likely to draw significant international attention and scrutiny.

The incidents have sparked widespread condemnation from civil society organizations, religious groups, and ordinary Kenyans. The Catholic Church has declared a 14-day prayer session following the Kariuki shooting, while various human rights organizations have called for independent investigations into police conduct.

Demonstrations against police violence erupt after 31-year-old Albert Ojwang dies in custody, according to Al Jazeera, highlighting the sustained nature of public anger over alleged police brutality.

Despite the gravity of their accusations, the opposition has called on Kenyans to remain united and unafraid. “The will of the people shall prevail, and the courage of Albert Ojwang and countless others will not be in vain. We stand united, resolute, and unafraid,” their statement concluded.

The coalition has asserted that “no regime can sustain itself on bullets and lies,” positioning their ICC petition as both a legal strategy and a broader call for democratic accountability.

The opposition’s promise to file an ICC case represents a significant escalation in Kenya’s political tensions.

The success of such a case would depend heavily on the quality and credibility of evidence collected, as well as the ICC prosecutor’s assessment of whether the allegations meet the threshold for crimes against humanity.

Meanwhile, the immediate focus remains on the ongoing investigations into the deaths of Albert Ojwang and the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, both of which have become symbols of broader concerns about police accountability and human rights in Kenya.

The international community will likely watch closely as these events unfold, particularly given Kenya’s important role in regional security and its leadership of international peacekeeping missions, including the controversial Haiti deployment that the opposition has now called into question.