Opposition to file ICC case against Ruto over police killings, link to Sudan militia

The United Opposition has accused President William Ruto’s administration of overseeing extrajudicial killings, deploying rogue police units, and forming illegal alliances with militia gangs, which they say mirror Haiti-style death squads.

The opposition bloc now says it is compiling evidence for submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC), seeking to have President Ruto held accountable for alleged crimes against humanity.

In a strongly worded statement released Wednesday, the opposition condemned what it termed as “brazen shooting of unarmed citizens” during Tuesday’s peaceful protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), blaming the National Police Service (NPS) for carrying out what it described as “rampant and senseless extrajudicial killings.”

The opposition political faction painted a grim picture of what it claims is a coordinated crackdown on dissent, accusing the police of acting as “judge, jury, and executioner” under a “paranoid and repressive regime.”

They further allege that police officers are working in collaboration with militia groups, described as similar in nature to Haiti’s armed gangs, to violently suppress public protests.

“What is now clear is 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 terrorize a nation on taxpayers' money,” read the statement signed by Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, Mukhisa Kituyi and Saitoti Torome.

They raised a series of pointed questions regarding the conduct of law enforcement during the protests, including: the use of masks and lack of identifiable badge numbers by officers; the deployment of live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators; as well as the alleged involvement of police officers in the looting of private property.

They further cited similarities between firearms used by Kenyan police and those reportedly supplied by the Kenyan government to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, and what they termed as perjury by senior police commanders before Parliament regarding the death of digital activist and teacher Albert Ojwang.

The opposition accused President Ruto’s government of systematically violating the Constitution of Kenya and international human rights laws, including the Rome Statute which established the ICC.

They went ahead to link Ruto to illegal arms transfers and accuses him of enabling atrocities both in Kenya and Sudan.

“It is clear the Ruto regime has waged war against fundamental human rights with calculated vengeance. He has deployed killer rogue police squads whose tactics are similar to the Haiti militia,” the statement added.

“These death squads are using special firearms that Ruto has also illegally supplied to Sudan's RSF militia. These acts have resulted to countless deaths both in Kenya and Sudan.”

While expressing doubt that any form of accountability would come from within government institutions, the opposition disclosed that it has been collecting and compiling evidence to hand over to the ICC Prosecutor, seeking international intervention.

“To the Kenyan people: do not be afraid and intimidated,” the statement urged, calling on citizens to remain united in the face of what it described as a regime reliant on “bullets and lies.”

“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.”