Azimio leader Raila Odinga has criticised the close ties between ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and President William Ruto at a time the opposition is seeking justice at The Hague-based court over alleged police brutality against protesters.
Raila said the International Criminal Court should remain neutral in the execution of its mandate of advancing justice all across the globe.
His remarks come days after Khan was in the country for the award of an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree by Mt Kenya University on August 4.
"The prosecutor of ICC was here treated by Mr Ruto in State House. Given a chopper to go and receive an honorary degree for fighting for human rights. And there he was again being received by another agent of Ruto," Raila said.
He was speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga park in Bondo town on Friday during the interdenominational requiem mass for the protesters who died during anti-government protests in July.
Raila said the deaths of youth during and after the demonstrations, some as young as 14, were a planned act of wanton killings of members of the Luo community.
He said ICC should exercise its core mandate as a court of last resort and ensure victims of injustices across the world get justice.
"We have said that this is not right. ICC should remain true to its mandate by protecting and defending the rights of innocent people all over the world."
Khan announced through his office on August 8 that he had recused himself from all Kenya cases at the ICC after Azimio alleged that his visit to Kenya could jeopardise their case at the court.
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)’s public information unit clarified that the prosecutor was in Kenya in a private capacity.
Meanwhile, Raila said through the exercise of Article 1 of the Constitution, Kenyans will ultimately liberate themselves by directly exercising their sovereignty.
He said if anything, defiance against the Kenya Kwanza government does not have to always take the shape of street protests.
"Kenya must and can be liberated. We must tell them also that we will not be cowed by these acts and we do not have to even bring people on the streets, we can tell people to stay home and see what they will do," he said.
