Kenyan MPs have approved a motion to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), where the country’s president and his deputy are facing trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are accused of orchestrating post-election bloodshed after the disputed elections of 2007.  Political rivalries plunged into violence, and violence turned into ethic killings and reprisal attacks.  More than 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 forced from their homes. 

Both men deny the charges, and say the ICC filed charges based only on the biased accounts of their political rivals.  The ICC says the cases would continue, even if Kenya pulled out.

"The judicial process is now in motion at the International Criminal Court. Justice must run its course," said ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

The African Union has accused the ICC of “hunting Africans”, because the vast majority of its prosecutions involve defendants from that continent.

The measure making the split official could be introduced as within the next 30 days.