Kenya Minute.
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

International Criminal Court

International tribunal that faces pressure from the US to disband and scrutiny over Kenya's 2027 election political violence.

2026-04-282026-09-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeUS President Donald Trump called Tuesday for all nations that are part of the International Criminal Court to quit the body, calling it "out of control." "The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal C

    Trump at UN calls for all countries to quit ICC
  3. The Standard

    Trump insisted the United States will not join global regulation of AI and urged countries to abandon the International Criminal Court which was set up to prosecute war crimes.

    Trump beats 'America first' drum at UN as allies tread carefully
  4. Citizen Digital

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza that Israel denies – is to speak on Thursday.

    World leaders return to UN as it struggles to remain relevant
  5. The Standard

    Washington also accused the organisations of "taking actions to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking to bypass negotiations through seeking unilateral recogniti

    US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly
  6. Citizen Digital

    02 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi Audio By Vocalize Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi has called for the establishment of an International Criminal Court

    Muturi calls for ICC outreach office in Nairobi amid ethnic rhetoric concerns
  7. August 2026
  8. Citizen Digital

    US campaign against court By Reuters August 27, 2026 05:59 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Japan should try to counter U.S. efforts to pressure members ‌of the International Criminal Court

    ICC urges Japan to counter US campaign against court
  9. The Standard

    International mechnisms, including the International Criminal Court and human-rights tribunals, remain living reminders that legal liability often outlives political careers.

    Architecture of patronage and political rewards is holding Kenya hostage
  10. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizePrime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has rejected calls for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene in Kenya amid growing concerns over political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election, Mudavadi argued that the country has functioning institu

    Mudavadi rejects ICC calls as political violence rises
  11. Capital News

    The Interior CS also criticised calls for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene in Kenya’s political and security disputes, appearing to direct his remarks at those seeking international scrutiny of alleged political violence.

    Murkomen warns ICC could prosecute Orengo over alleged use of goons
  12. Citizen Digital

    On Wednesday, the United Alternative Government called upon the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court to initiate action against President William Ruto following investigations over the latest political violence experienced across the country.

    Heavy security mounted as Gachagua set to address rally in Emurua Dikirr
World & Region

Trump urges ICC member nations to withdraw from court

The News

At the United Nations, US President Donald Trump called for all nations that are members of the International Criminal Court to quit the body, which he described as "out of control." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick," citing the court's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an intolerable threat to US sovereignty.

22 September 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Trump urges ICC member nations to withdraw from court

    At the United Nations, US President Donald Trump called for all nations that are members of the International Criminal Court to quit the body, which he described as "out of control." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick," citing the court's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an intolerable threat to US sovereignty.

    22 September 2026 · The Standard

  2. Trump promotes unilateral US approach at UN General Assembly

    President Trump told the UN that the United States will not join global AI regulation and urged countries to abandon the International Criminal Court, while also stating he faces a "big decision" on whether to negotiate or "annihilate the Islamic Republic" of Iran. Other world leaders at the assembly warned about Palestinian futures amid Israeli West Bank settlement expansion and raised concerns about global unrest and US actions.

    22 September 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 20 September

  1. World leaders gather as UN struggles amid Trump criticism

    Nearly 130 heads of state meet for the UN General Assembly with the organization facing attacks from Trump, who has reduced America's contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will skip the gathering to hold one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington.

    20 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 17 September

  1. US denies visas to Palestinian Authority officials for UN assembly

    The United States has refused visas for Palestinian Authority officials, including president Mahmoud Abbas, to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week. The State Department cited their failure to reform and ongoing activities that undermine peace prospects, while the Palestinian foreign ministry rejected the decision as unjustified and contrary to rebuilding trust.

    17 September 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 6 September

  1. Muturi calls for ICC outreach office in Nairobi

    Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has called for the establishment of an International Criminal Court (ICC) outreach office in Nairobi, citing concerns over rising ethnic rhetoric ahead of the 2027 General Election. Muturi warned against the use of ethnicity and memories of past violence as political mobilisation tools.

    6 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 27 August

  1. ICC president urges Japan to resist US campaign

    The head of the International Criminal Court, Tomoko Akane, has called on Japan to counter U.S. efforts to pressure ICC members to quit the institution, citing Tokyo's role as the court's biggest financial backer. The Trump administration has sanctioned the ICC president and a senior lawyer, and has called on other countries to leave the body, a call at least five countries have already heeded.

    27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Opinion: Cabinet posts awarded for loyalty, not competence

    An editorial argues that Kenya's Cabinet Secretary positions are being filled as political rewards for partisan fidelity rather than expertise, with vetting by the National Assembly reduced to a "choreographed ritual of deference," resulting in administrative blunders and institutional decay.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 24 August

  1. Mudavadi rejects ICC intervention calls amid rising political violence

    Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has rejected calls for ICC intervention in Kenya, arguing that the country's security, investigative and judicial institutions are capable of handling crimes from political confrontations and that Kenya has not met the ICC threshold. Opposition figures have called for greater international scrutiny, including ICC observers, citing incidents of violence at political gatherings ahead of the 2027 elections.

    24 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 21 August

  1. Murkomen accuses Orengo, Babu of mobilising Nairobi youths to Homa Bay

    Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has accused Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino of mobilising youths from Nairobi to Homa Bay, claiming security agencies intercepted some en route but alleging others entered the county after accompanying Orengo. Murkomen suggested the ICC could prosecute Orengo over the alleged use of goons, adding that such political disputes should not be subject to international intervention.

    21 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Heavy security deployed for Gachagua rally in Emurua Dikirr

    Security has been deployed at Mogondor Centre in Emurua Dikirr, Narok County, ahead of a rally by Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua. The deployment comes as Gachagua continues political engagements in the region and after his convoy was previously attacked in Nakuru County.

    21 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Legal experts warn Kenya risks ICC prosecution for political violence

    Legal experts warn that Kenya is quickly moving toward becoming a guest of the International Criminal Court due to political violence.

    21 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 20 August

  1. Ichung'wah welcomes ICC probe, blames opposition for violence

    National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has welcomed calls for an ICC investigation into political violence in Kenya, but countered opposition accusations against President Ruto by claiming opposition leaders are sponsoring violence and shifting blame to the government.

    20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Naivasha MP Kihara clashes with Nairobi Woman Rep Passaris on live TV

    During a tense TV47 broadcast, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris clashed over allegations of political incitement and the 2007 post-electoral violence, with Passaris accusing Kihara of involvement in the 2007 violence and Kihara rejecting the accusations.

    20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. US sanctions ICC president, citing corruption and politicisation

    The United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, calling the ICC "corrupt and fatally politicised"; the ICC responded by calling the sanctions a "flagrant attack" on court independence, with EU officials voicing support for the court's autonomy.

    20 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 19 August

  1. VOCAL Africa urges ICC to monitor Kenya ahead of 2027 election

    Human rights organization VOCAL Africa has written to the International Criminal Court's Office of the Prosecutor seeking close observation of Kenya's deteriorating political and human rights situation ahead of the 2027 General Election, citing organized gang use at political gatherings, inflammatory rhetoric, attacks on journalists and protesters, and institutional failure as potential triggers for widespread violations.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Opposition urges ICC to investigate Ruto over political violence

    The United Opposition has called on the International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor to investigate President William Ruto following attacks on Opposition politicians during rallies. People's Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua said the ICC should review previous charges against Ruto and assess whether to reopen the case, urging the prosecutor to monitor developments and investigate if evidence emerges of widespread or systematic attacks organized or tolerated by authorities.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Opposition coalition urges ICC to probe Ruto over political violence

    A coalition of opposition parties and political movements has called on the International Criminal Court to assess alleged political violence in Kenya and consider investigating President William Ruto if evidence links those in power to organised attacks ahead of the 2027 General Election.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

  4. Human rights group asks ICC to monitor Kenya ahead of 2027 election

    Vocal Africa has written to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor, warning that Kenya's political, security and human rights spheres are deteriorating ahead of the 2027 General Election, citing rising ethnic tensions, political incitement, goon mobilisation, and alleged police involvement in violence.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  5. Vocal Africa asks ICC to monitor Kenya before 2027 election

    Vocal Africa has written to the International Criminal Court requesting it place Kenya under close observation ahead of the 2027 General Election, citing a deteriorating political, security and human rights situation and warning that current conditions could create circumstances for mass violence and international crimes, drawing parallels to the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

    19 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 16 August

  1. Kalonzo, Ndeti, Mule condemn escalating political violence

    Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Governor Wavinya Ndeti, and Matungulu MP Stephen Mule called out President Ruto over escalating political violence targeting the opposition, citing attacks on Linda Mwananchi's convoy in Homa Bay, Rigathi Gachagua's convoy in Nakuru, and Senator Sifuna. Kalonzo warned Ruto that he would be held responsible should the country slide into anarchy and called the violence an impeachable offense.

    16 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 15 August

  1. Karua accuses Ruto of using goons to suppress opposition

    People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has accused President William Ruto of using goons to suppress opposition and settle political scores, urging him to leave office if he has lost Kenyan support. Karua claimed the Kenya Kwanza administration sponsors attacks on opposition rallies and deploys goons alongside police to disrupt protests and assault demonstrators.

    15 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Security analyst warns Kenya has not healed from 2007-08 violence

    Security analyst Erick Okeyo has cautioned that the government must help Kenya heal from the 2007-08 post-election violence and restore public confidence ahead of 2027 elections, warning that current political rhetoric resembles language used before the violence that killed more than 1,000 people. Okeyo said Kenya had not fully healed because justice had not been served, citing killings and disappearances of witnesses in ICC-linked cases, and criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration for failing to act against politicians whose remarks could fuel violence.

    12 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. US rights groups challenge Trump ICC sanctions in court

    US rights groups including Human Rights Watch sued President Trump over sanctions targeting International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors, arguing the measures violate First Amendment protections and block war crimes victims from pursuing justice.

    12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Taliban government builds diplomatic relationships five years after return

    Five years after returning to power, Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have built working relationships with multiple countries despite lacking formal recognition from most. Russia remains the only nation to officially recognize the Taliban government, while many Western countries demand domestic human rights reforms before considering recognition, though many states are engaging with Afghanistan's leaders on practical grounds.

    11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Rights groups sue Trump over ICC sanctions measures

    Four rights groups including Human Rights Watch filed a lawsuit in New York court challenging Trump administration sanctions on International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors, arguing the measures block victims of war crimes from pursuing justice and violate US law including First Amendment protections.

    11 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 10 August

  1. Kenya should strategically engage diaspora for economic diplomacy

    An opinion piece argues that Kenya treats economic diplomacy as episodic rather than systematic infrastructure, citing the Foreign Affairs PS's recent visit to Australia as an example of intentional diplomacy, but noting that sustained diaspora engagement — as practiced by countries like South Korea and India — remains underdeveloped.

    10 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 6 August

  1. Myanmar's ex-junta chief visits Thailand as civilian leader

    Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok for his first visit to Thailand as a civilian leader, part of efforts to normalize relations with his country. As a general, he led a 2021 military coup that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered a civil war estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people; he was installed as president in April following stage-managed elections democracy watchdogs called a sham.

    6 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 31 July

  1. Trump board announces Hamas disarmament agreement for Gaza

    US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace announced an agreement for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to completely disarm, with a senior Hamas official confirming the group's agreement to the plan and Israel yet to comment. The disarmament is part of the second phase of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan that also includes Israeli troop withdrawal and Gaza reconstruction.

    31 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. 2007 sexual violence survivors seek justice and compensation at Supreme Court

    Seven survivors of 2007–2008 post-election sexual violence, supported by rights organizations, argued before Kenya's Supreme Court that the government has failed to compensate them and prosecute perpetrators, including police. The Attorney General, DPP, and IPOA opposed the case, claiming the government pursued at least 300 sexual violence cases during the period.

    31 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Kenya seeks trade and investment ties with Australia

    Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing'Oei concluded a visit to Australia under the country's Special Visitors Programme, aimed at unlocking new trade, investment and employment opportunities. The visit included discussions with Australian officials and industry leaders on expanding trade, investment, research partnerships and skills development in areas including mining, renewable energy, agriculture, and digital technology.

    29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

International Criminal Court — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute