The ICC Prosecutor charged Ruto with crimes against humanity of murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population, and persecution, allegedly committed in Kenya during the 2007 to 2008 post-election violence. Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed charges against him on 23 January 2012.
As of 30 October 2026, the ICC case against Ruto is terminated with charges vacated, no appeal was filed, and there are no upcoming hearings.
Violence spread after the announcement of the December 2007 presidential election result. ICC judges later found substantial grounds to believe that, from 30 December 2007 to 16 January 2008, groups attacked people perceived as PNU supporters in the Uasin Gishu and Nandi districts.
President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga signed an agreement in Nairobi to end the post-election crisis, with Odinga to take a new post of prime minister. The talks were mediated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence, chaired by Justice Philip Waki, presented its report to President Kibaki. Based on hospital data it reported 1,133 deaths between 27 December 2007 and 29 February 2008, as cited by ICC judges. Human Rights Watch said it recommended a special tribunal.
Annan, on behalf of the African Union Panel of Eminent African Personalities, gave the ICC a sealed envelope with names of the main suspects after Kenya failed to establish a special tribunal, the Guardian reported.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo filed a request under article 15 of the Rome Statute to open an investigation on his own initiative, the first time the Office had done so without a referral. He had notified the Court's President of his intention on 5 November 2009.
By majority, Pre-Trial Chamber II authorised an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed between 1 June 2005 and 26 November 2009. Judge Hans-Peter Kaul appended a dissenting opinion.
The ICC prosecutor asked Pre-Trial Chamber II to issue summonses to appear for six Kenyans, among them William Ruto, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe they were responsible for crimes against humanity.
Pre-Trial Chamber II, by majority, issued summonses for William Ruto, Henry Kosgey and Joshua Arap Sang to appear before the Court on 7 April 2011.
The Government of Kenya filed an application challenging the admissibility of the case before the ICC. Pre-Trial Chamber II rejected it on 30 May 2011.
At the initial appearance hearing, the Chamber scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing for 1 September 2011. The suspects appeared voluntarily and were not in ICC custody.
The Appeals Chamber confirmed Pre-Trial Chamber II's decision of 30 May 2011 rejecting the Kenyan government's challenge to admissibility.
The confirmation of charges hearing in the case against Ruto, Kosgey and Sang ran from 1 to 8 September 2011.
Decision on the confirmation of charges (as reported by UN News). Charges against Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang were confirmed and they were committed to trial. Charges against Henry Kosgey were not confirmed.
Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as president in Nairobi. Al Jazeera reported that his deputy, William Ruto, also faced ICC charges.
Opening of trial. Both accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population, and persecution as crimes against humanity.
An ICC arrest warrant issued under seal on 2 August 2013 against Walter Barasa for offences against the administration of justice, consisting in corruptly or attempting to corruptly influence ICC witnesses, was unsealed. He has not been surrendered.
The Appeals Chamber unanimously reversed Trial Chamber V(a)'s decision of 18 June 2013 granting Ruto conditional excusal from continuous presence at trial, holding that absence is permissible only in exceptional circumstances.
Trial Chamber V(A) granted the prosecution's request to admit prior recorded testimony of witnesses under amended rule 68 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
A warrant issued under seal on 10 March 2015 against Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett for allegedly corruptly influencing witnesses in cases from the Kenya situation was unsealed.
Trial Chamber V(A) heard further submissions from 12 to 15 January 2016 on requests by Ruto and Sang for a finding of no case to answer and a judgment of acquittal, which the prosecution and victims' lawyer opposed.
The Appeals Chamber unanimously found that applying amended rule 68 was retroactive and detrimental to the accused, as the trial had started before the rule was amended on 27 November 2013, and reversed the admission of that testimony for the truth of its contents.
Decision on Defence applications for judgments of acquittal. The majority vacated the charges and discharged the accused without prejudice to prosecution in future at the ICC or in a national jurisdiction. Judge Fremr found the evidence insufficient for a reasonable chamber to convict. Judge Eboe-Osuji also declared a mistrial, citing witness interference and political meddling. Judge Herrera Carbuccia would have continued the trial.
Gicheru surrendered to Dutch authorities under the 2015 warrant and was transferred to ICC custody on 3 November 2020. His first appearance took place on 6 November 2020.
Trial Chamber III opened the trial of Paul Gicheru, who pleaded not guilty to all charges of offences against the administration of justice. Closing statements were heard on 27 June 2022.
Ruto was sworn in after the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the August 2022 election result. The Associated Press noted that his ICC case had been closed amid allegations of witness intimidation.
Trial Chamber III terminated the proceedings against Paul Gicheru following confirmation of his passing, before any verdict.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan announced the end of the investigation phase in the Kenya situation. The warrant against Philip Kipkoech Bett remains outstanding and the ICC does not try people in their absence.
The ICC Prosecutor charged Kenyatta with crimes against humanity of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, other inhumane acts and persecution, relating to attac...
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Africanews · africanews.com
Human Rights Watch · hrw.org
BBC News · news.bbc.co.uk
BBC News · bbc.co.uk
Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com BBC News · bbc.co.uk
PBS News · pbs.orgLast updated 30 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.