Kenyan MPs have approved a motion to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) following an emergency debate.
The motion, tabled by majority leader Adan Duale, said Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were “lawfully elected” and the government should take steps to “immediately” withdraw from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
A bill to this effect is expected to be introduced in the next 30 days, after opposition MPs boycotted the vote.
The ICC has charged President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto with crimes against humanity, which they both deny. Mr Ruto’s trial is due to start in The Hague next week.
The ICC said the cases will continue, even if Kenya pulls out.
MPs from the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, walked out of the debate, calling the motion “capricious” and “ill-considered”.
Kenya’s withdrawal would not bring “honor to the nation and dignity to our leaders”, Cord said in a statement.
The charges against both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto stem from violence that broke out after disputed elections in 2007, in which more than 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 forced from their homes.
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