William Ruto

Ruto ordered the closure of small businesses operated by foreigners without the necessary permits following protests by Kenyan traders. The measure caused serious anxiety among Burundians and other East African nationals, some of whom sought to leave the country for fear of violence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Ruto established a Presidential Task Force to conduct a forensic audit of public debt under Executive Order No. 4 of 2024. On 23 July 2026, the High Court declared the order unconstitutional and invalid, ruling that the task force's mandate encroached upon the constitutional functions of the Auditor-General.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After further demonstrations left dozens dead, Ruto instructed police to shoot violent protesters in the legs to incapacitate rather than kill them, and described certain troublemakers as terrorists. The statement sparked considerable controversy over rules governing the use of force and the risk of encouraging police shootings.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Ruto's fiscal programme, including the Affordable Housing Levy, faced strong opposition. In November 2023, the High Court ruled that the initial version of the levy was unjustified, discriminatory, arbitrary and lacked an adequate legal framework. The government and Parliament subsequently adopted new legislation to continue the programme, which was itself challenged.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following several judicial decisions blocking or delaying his reforms, Ruto accused unnamed judges of collusion and corruption and said courts would not prevent him from implementing his programmes. Judges, lawyers and human rights organisations condemned what they considered a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Ruto positioned Kenya as the leader of an international security mission in Haiti. A Kenyan court initially ruled that deployment could not legally proceed without an appropriate reciprocal agreement. The government subsequently signed a bilateral agreement with Haiti and continued the mission project.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Finance Bill 2024, supported by Ruto to increase tax revenue, sparked a nationwide protest movement led notably by young Kenyans. After demonstrators entered Parliament and a deadly crackdown followed, Ruto withdrew the bill. Human Rights Watch subsequently documented abductions, disappearances and killings attributed to security forces during the mobilisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Ruto accused the Ford Foundation of funding individuals whom he claimed were responsible for violence and anarchy during anti-government protests. He did not make supporting evidence public. The foundation rejected the allegation and reiterated the non-partisan nature of its funding.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Proposals involving India's Adani group for Nairobi's international airport and electricity infrastructure prompted strikes, legal challenges and criticism over transparency, concession terms and financial risks. After Gautam Adani was indicted in the United States in a separate case, Ruto ordered the cancellation of the relevant procedures and contracts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Kenya documented at least 31 deaths and hundreds of injuries during the 2023 demonstrations, attributing live-fire shootings, ill-treatment, arbitrary detentions and disproportionate use of tear gas to police. Victims included protesters, bystanders and people inside their homes.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Weston Hotel, associated with Ruto, was involved in lengthy litigation because it was built on land claimed as public property by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The National Land Commission found that the initial allocation had been irregular and considered compensation to KCAA rather than restitution, a decision itself challenged in court.

State of the evidence

Documented

William Ruto and others were prosecuted over the sale to Kenya Pipeline of land alleged by prosecutors to have originated from Ngong Forest. In April 2011, the court acquitted him, finding that the prosecution evidence had not established a prima facie case. In 2020, police announced fresh investigations into the transaction.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

The ICC initiated proceedings against Ruto over alleged crimes against humanity during the 2007–2008 post-election violence. The charges were confirmed and the trial began. On 5 April 2016, the Trial Chamber vacated the charges against Ruto and Joshua Sang, without prejudice to possible future proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome