Namakangala, Kituyi Claire2025-01-232025-01-232024-10Namakangala, K. C. (2024). Africa’s Discontent Towards the International Criminal Court and Its Implications on The Court’s Legitimacy, Post Kenya’s Icc Trials. Daystar University, School of Arts and Social Scienceshttps://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6055Master of Arts in Diplomacy, Development, and International SecurityThis thesis aimed to explore the complex discontent expressed by African states towards the International Criminal Court (ICC), especially in the wake of Kenya’s trial, which was marked by significant developments. The study emphasized the growing skepticism and criticism of the ICC among African nations, often stemming from perceptions of bias and neocolonialism, which had a bearing on the court's legitimacy and effectiveness in promoting international justice. The study was underpinned by Liberal Institutionalism and Legal Institutionalism theories, which provided a theoretical framework for analyzing the ICC's legitimacy and the political dynamics influencing African perceptions. By employing a multi-faceted qualitative approach, including a review of existing literature and empirical data, the research identified the root causes of Africa's discontent. This study used an interpretivist paradigm to explore African perceptions of the ICC. A desk research design reviewed existing literature and secondary data. The target population included Kenyan political leaders, civil society, and legal experts. Data was organized with a literature review matrix and analyzed thematically to identify key patterns and conclusions. The study found that perceptions of bias and selectivity significantly undermined the ICC's legitimacy in Kenya and Africa, with political leaders framing it as a neo-colonial tool targeting African states. Sovereignty concerns fueled further resistance, particularly after Kenya's ICC trials, which strained relations between African states and the Court. The study concluded that the ICC’s perceived bias and interference with national autonomy weakened its legitimacy and cooperation with African governments. The study recommended strengthening domestic judicial systems, fostering political will, engaging the African Union, and enhancing civil society participation to bridge the gap between African states and the ICC. The study recommended that future research expand beyond Kenya to explore ICC perceptions across diverse African contexts and adopt a mixed-methods approach for comprehensive analysis. This study contributes to knowledge by highlighting sovereignty concerns and proposing strategies, such as strengthening domestic judicial systems, to improve the ICC's legitimacy and cooperation in Africa.enInternational Criminal CourtThesis