UMVA has learned that a groundbreaking criminal complaint has been filed in Nairobi, seeking to prosecute members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The complaint, submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, marks a historic first in Kenya's pursuit of accountability for atrocities committed outside its borders, invoking universal jurisdiction.
Filed on behalf of twelve Sudanese victims by two organizations, the petition calls for investigations into ten alleged RSF members accused of crimes committed during the ongoing Sudan conflict.
"The victims and survivors have waited a long time to see justice served at the national and international levels," said a prominent figure. "This action today gives hope to many Sudanese to work toward combating impunity for such crimes and atrocities."
The allegations include detention, torture, sexual violence, forced labour, and other heinous crimes committed in and around Khartoum, including facilities such as Soba Prison and the Al-Riyadh complex.
One survivor described being violently interrogated, held in darkness for weeks, and forced at gunpoint to commit sexual violence against a fellow detainee.
Legal teams argue that this is the first time Kenya is being asked to exercise jurisdiction over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed abroad under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction.
The move places Kenya at the centre of a growing global effort to use domestic courts to prosecute atrocity crimes where international mechanisms are limited or geographically constrained.
"The UN recently found that the RSF committed genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity," said another prominent figure. "Kenya should not be a safe haven for war criminals."
The complainants further argue that some of the accused have alleged links to Kenya, raising concerns about possible cross-border movement of individuals implicated in Sudan's conflict.
Kenyan lawyer representing the victims said the case will test both Kenya's legal framework and its political will to enforce international criminal law.
This case could have far-reaching implications for Kenya, potentially setting a precedent for how regional courts handle foreign war crimes allegations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to determine within 30 days whether to open a formal investigation—a decision that could define Kenya's emerging role in global accountability for atrocity crimes.
