DNK International By Our Correspondent,London
Yesterday (June 19, 2026) marked another dramatic chapter in the downfall of Karim Khan, the former lawyer for President William Ruto and the current Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), after he was formally suspended from practising law in Britain.
For decades, Khan enjoyed a stellar reputation as one of Britain’s most accomplished international lawyers.
He represented high profile clients across the globe and rose through the ranks to become the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor in 2021.
In Kenya, Khan became a household name in 2010 when then Eldoret North MP William Ruto now the fifth President appointed him as his lead defence counsel after the ICC indicted him over the 2007/08 post election violence that followed the disputed presidential election.
However, Khan’s fortunes have since taken a dramatic turn.
His troubles intensified after he sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes committed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
In response, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Khan, measures that remain in force.
Reports also indicate that technology giant Microsoft restricted his access to some of its services.
What followed was a rapid decline for a legal career that had been built over more than three decades.
In May 2024, the ICC initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving Khan and one of his assistants.
The allegations became public through a whistleblower in October 2024.
A second allegation of sexual misconduct was made in August 2025.
Following months of investigations, Khan stepped aside from his duties in May 2025.
Last week, he was suspended from his role at the ICC pending the outcome of the investigations.
On June 19, 2026, Britain’s independent legal regulator also suspended him from practising law within its jurisdiction, marking an unprecedented development for a serving ICC prosecutor.
Khan was elected ICC Prosecutor on February 12, 2021, during the nineteenth (19th) session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in New York.
He was sworn into office on June 16, 2021, succeeding Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda.
Before joining the ICC, Khan served as an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and headed the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) in Iraq between 2018 and 2021.
The body was established under UN Security Council Resolution 2379 to support accountability efforts for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the terrorist group.
A King’s Counsel and veteran barrister, Khan has more than 30 years of experience in international criminal law and human rights litigation.
During his career, he has served as a prosecutor, defence lawyer and victims’ counsel before several international tribunals, including the ICC, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
He has also represented victims of human rights violations across Africa and Asia.
Khan is a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn, was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2018, served as the second President of the ICC Bar Association, and has been a global ambassador for the African Bar Association.
He has authored and co-authored several leading publications on international criminal law, including Archbold International Criminal Courts.
Khan holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from King’s College London, alongside several other academic and professional qualifications.
Despite his distinguished legal career, controversy has frequently followed him.
In 2023, a Moscow court sentenced Khan and several other ICC officials in absentia after the Hague based court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Another notable milestone came on August 4, 2024, when Mount Kenya University (MKU) awarded Khan an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of what the institution described as his outstanding contribution to the promotion of justice and humanity.
The Award triggered fierce public outcry towards the University.
Born to a British nurse and a Pakistani dermatologist, Khan’s father hailed from Mardan, Pakistan.
He has a sister and two brothers, including former Conservative Party MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who was convicted of a sexual offence in 2022.
Khan is married to Malaysian lawyer Shyamala Alagendra, and the couple have two children.
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🗓️ [DNK-International@June 20,2026]
