Kenyan MPs have backed a motion to pull out of the International Criminal Court, an angry snub to The Hague-based tribunal ahead of next week's trial of Vice President William Ruto.
The symbolic vote offers a defiant message to the ICC, but does not impact upcoming trials of the east African nation's leadership, and parliament must now vote on a bill within 30 days to formalise steps for an actual withdrawal.
Kenya is the first country to hold such a vote to leave the world court.
The motion "to suspend any links, co-operation and assistance" to the court was overwhelming approved by the National Assembly through a voice vote.
The ICC trial of Vice-President Ruto on three counts of crimes against humanity opens on Tuesday.
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He's accused of organising 2007-2008 post-election unrest that killed at least 1100 people and displaced more than 600,000.
Ruto's trial comes about two months ahead of that of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces five charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and deportation.
Both Kenyatta and Ruto say they will co-operate fully with the court and deny the charges against them. Also due to appear in The Hague is radio boss Joshua Arap Sang, accused of inciting violence.
Parliamentary majority leader Aden Duale, in a heated debate in which MPs were frequently called to order as they stamped on the floor and cheered their colleagues, said leaving the ICC would defend the country's constitution and "redeem the image of Kenya".
"It will set the stage for the end to the culture of impunity both at home and abroad," Duale claimed.
One MP urged colleagues to condemn the ICC to "the cesspool of history".
But opposition MP Jakoyo Midiwo said it was "a dark day for Kenya" and that the country would "suffer consequences of pulling out."
Opposition leader Francis Nyenze said pulling out would cast Kenya in a poor light internationally.
Amnesty International condemned the move, warning that it would strip Kenyans "of one of the most important human rights protections".
