Azimio Threatens To Take Ruto To ICC
Several deaths and injuries were recorded on Tuesday as protests against proposed tax hikes, intended to reduce government debt, escalated.
Marvin Chege 
Azimio La Umoja has threatened to go to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the recent killings witnessed during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024.
Wiper Party Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka spoke on Friday, June 28 after paying a visit to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where patients are being attended to after sustaining injuries during the week-long protests.
"If I was Ruto, I would be deeply troubled. Our children, the Gen Z, peacefully came out to our streets in their hundreds of thousands to protest the socio-economic injustices perpetrated on all Kenyans by the KK dictatorship," he stated on X.
"They have been murdered, brutally attacked, hijacked, and abducted."
Kalonzo Musyoka speaking at Kenyatta National Hospital on June 28, 2024. /KALONZO MUSYOKA
Several deaths and injuries were recorded on Tuesday as protests against proposed tax hikes, intended to reduce government debt, escalated.
The youth-led rallies, which began peacefully last week, quickly turned violent, resulting in chaotic scenes.
Protesters stormed the Senate and National Assembly buildings, setting fire to parts of the parliamentary precincts.
Kalonzo further vowed to document every case with the intention of suing those responsible for the deaths witnessed during the protests, at the ICC, terming their actions as crimes against humanity.
"We are going to document every case perhaps even revisit the International Criminal Court and this time, talk to them about atrocities committed against the Kenyan people," he revealed.
Adding "by a regime which is heartless...which causes its own citizens to commit 'treasonous' acts. We are yet to be told who are the financiers of this organic youth movement in their thousands and they just want to claim their country back."
Kalonzo further accused President William Ruto's government of being heartless and inconsiderate to the point of refusing to listen to genuine concerns raised by Kenyans. Nonetheless, he praised the youth for leading a revolution in an attempt to take back their country.
He also indicated that the rampant abduction cases that surfaced during the protests will also be considered when submitting their case to the International Criminal Court.
"Abduction seems to be continuing, students have been abducted and terrorized and indoctrinated," he added.
The former Vice President urged President Ruto to show consideration and engage with the leadership of Gen Z to discuss key issues of concern.
Police laxity in dealing with protestors who stormed various public and private places was evident as youth overwhelmed key government infrastructure.
The nationwide chaos that erupted across various counties consequently raised concerns that the police lacked a comprehensive strategy to manage the demonstrations.
Kalonzo's threat means that Ruto risks being dragged back to the same courts which had in November 2023 decided to conclude the investigation phase into cases where six suspects were accused of crimes against humanity in the 2007 post-general election violence. He was among the suspects.
On March 31, 2010, ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber II granted the request of the Office of the Prosecutor to open an investigation proprio motu in the Situation in the Republic of Kenya (“Situation in Kenya”), in relation to alleged crimes against humanity committed in the context of post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008.
The Office’s investigation led to charges against six suspects in two separate cases, and the suspects included Ruto alongside Uhuru Kenyatta, Joshua Arap Sang, Henry Kosgey, Mohammed Hussein Ali, and Francis Muthaura.
However, all charges against these six suspects were either not confirmed or withdrawn or terminated without prejudice.
