The High Court of Kenya has ruled against referring cases of abductions and enforced disappearances to the International Criminal Court (ICC), asserting that national institutions remain capable of handling such matters. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the widespread and systematic nature of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the country.
The petitioners, including Kituo Cha Sheria, Haki Afrika, and Charles Njue, had sought to compel the government to escalate these cases to the ICC, arguing that they met the threshold for crimes against humanity. However, Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that Kenya has not yet reached a point where it is unable to address these issues domestically.
Mugambi emphasized that cases involving deaths or injuries resulting from police actions while in custody fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and no other investigative body within the National Police Service is authorized to handle them.
“Kenya has not yet reached a point where it is unable to handle such matters,” the court noted.
The court acknowledged that parallel investigations conducted by both the police and IPOA have often led to injustice for victims and their families. Justice Mugambi stressed that police officers cannot investigate themselves in cases involving custodial deaths or injuries, reinforcing the need for independent oversight.
Despite recognizing the gravity of the situation, the court maintained that Kenya’s national systems have not yet failed in addressing these concerns effectively.
Legal representatives for the petitioners, including Dr. John Khaminwa and John Mwariri, expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated that they may appeal certain aspects of the decision. They argue that the Kenyan government has consistently failed to prevent or properly investigate enforced disappearances, leaving victims and their families without justice.
