Washington — July 13, 2025
Former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced the formation of a legal team tasked with compiling evidence to initiate proceedings against President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Speaking to Kenyans in the diaspora during a public address in Seattle, Gachagua accused the Ruto administration of overseeing widespread human rights violations, including killings, abductions, and forced disappearances.
“We have put up a team that is documenting all the atrocities, the killings, displacements, disappearances, and abductions taking place in Kenya,” Gachagua stated. “This evidence will be used to take William Ruto to the ICC at The Hague.”
The move comes in the wake of violent clashes during the recent Saba Saba protests, where reports from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicate that over 30 people lost their lives. Protesters and civil society groups have accused police of collaborating with armed gangs to suppress dissent, prompting renewed scrutiny of state conduct.
Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), emphasized that Ruto’s previous ICC case related to the 2007 post-election violence remains unresolved. He claimed that the file was merely suspended due to missing witnesses and expressed confidence that the new evidence would revive the case.
In addition to the ICC initiative, Gachagua revealed plans to establish a Committee on Restorative Justice, led by former Attorney General Justin Muturi, to document abuses and prepare compensation frameworks for victims should the opposition form government in 2027.
The former deputy president urged Kenyans abroad to actively support the campaign, framing it as a national liberation effort: “We must all play a role. You cannot be silent. You must play a role in the liberation of our country.”
President Ruto has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. The development marks a significant escalation in Kenya’s political tensions, with potential international legal ramifications.
Gachagua Assembles Legal Team to Pursue ICC Case Against President Ruto Seattle
