Ruto’s ICC Lawyer Karim Khan Fired Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Karim Khan, President William Ruto’s former lawyer, has been ousted as the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) lead prosecutor following sexual assault charges.
Following a disciplinary process that looked into charges of an inappropriate relationship with a junior staff member, Khan’s expulsion was authorized by the ICC Assembly of States Parties with 82 votes.
In addition, he faces allegations that he attempted to dissuade the employee from filing a complaint against him.
Khan has disputed all claims against him and stated that he will contest the decision through legal means.
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted by a majority on Friday to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan over misconduct claims during a special session at the United Nations headquarters in New York City pic.twitter.com/96zyuvZmkx— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 25, 2026
He previously oversaw Ruto’s legal defense during the ICC proceedings stemming from the 2007-08 post-election violence.
The case against Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang was terminated in 2016 after judges found the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence for a conviction.
Statement of #ICC Office of the Prosecutor on the ASP decision on disciplinary proceedings involving the Prosecutor ⤵️ https://t.co/q0ip1Aqvyo— Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) July 24, 2026
After taking office as ICC prosecutor in 2021, Khan recused himself from handling Kenya-related matters because of his previous role representing Ruto.
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Khan’s removal comes after he had been suspended from his position before the vote as the ICC considered the findings and recommendations from the investigation process.
It comes at a time when the ICC has faced intense scrutiny over its operations and decisions involving high-profile international cases.
In 2024, Khan pursued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials over alleged crimes linked to the Gaza conflict.
This move that attracted international attention and political opposition.
Khan has argued that the allegations against him, which arose in 2024, were linked to retaliation over his work at the court, though the removal process focused on the misconduct findings.
The ICC will now begin the process of addressing the leadership gap left by the departure of its top prosecutor.
Ruto’s ICC Lawyer Karim Khan Fired Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
