U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Kenya and 124 other member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the tribunal, accusing it of operating as an “out-of-control” and “anti-American” institution. Breaking It Down Trump made the remarks on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he criticised the court's authority over the United States and its perso
09/23/26 • 53
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Kenya and 124 other member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the tribunal, accusing it of operating as an “out-of-control” and “anti-American” institution.
🇰🇪 Breaking It Down
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he criticised the court's authority over the United States and its personnel.
“The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court,” Trump said, arguing that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the US.
Trump went further by calling on all 125 ICC member states to leave the court, saying, “I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately.”
📌 What You Need to Know
The demand directly includes Kenya, which is among the countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
Kenya signed the Rome Statute on August 11, 1999, and ratified it on March 15, 2005. The treaty entered into force for Kenya on June 1, 2005, making the country a member of the ICC.
Kenya’s membership later became significant when the ICC opened an investigation in 2010 into crimes against humanity linked to the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Previously, Kenya has been at the centre of major ICC cases involving its political leadership following the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
In 2012, the ICC confirmed charges against then-President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and then-Deputy President William Ruto over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the violence. The prosecution withdrew Kenyatta's charges in December 2014 , and the proceedings formally ended in March 2015.
The case against Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang was also ultimately terminated in 2016 after the Trial Chamber found that the prosecution could not proceed to trial, following difficulties including the cooperation of witnesses.
📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke
