NAIROBI, KENYA – A London-based private intelligence firm was reportedly hired on behalf of Qatar to target and gather sensitive information on a woman who has accused International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual abuse, according to an investigation published by The Guardian on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The operation, led by a “strategic advisory firm” named Highgate, sought to uncover information that could undermine the accuser's credibility and aimed to find a link between her and Israeli intelligence, though no such evidence was found.

The revelations cast a shadow over the ongoing United Nations investigation into the allegations against Khan and raise critical questions about foreign interference in the mechanisms of international justice. For Kenya, the situation is particularly resonant. Khan famously served as the lead defence counsel for William Ruto, now Kenya's President, when he faced charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC following the 2007-2008 post-election violence. The cases against Ruto and five others, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, eventually collapsed, with the prosecution citing witness tampering and a lack of government cooperation.

Intrusive Surveillance and Denials

According to documents reviewed by The Guardian, the intelligence operation began earlier this year and was commissioned by a high-level diplomatic unit within the Qatari state. Highgate, working with at least one other firm, Elicius Intelligence, allegedly obtained the woman's passport details, passwords for online accounts, and private emails, some apparently sourced from the dark web. The operation also reportedly sought the birth certificate of her young child and details of her flights.

In a statement to The Guardian, Highgate confirmed leading an “independent assessment into potential covert or improper activities that may have sought to undermine the credibility, independence, or efficiency of the ICC.” However, it denied that the project was commissioned or paid for by the Qatari government and stated it had not “acted against any individual.” The firm also called the claim that it sought information on the woman's child “inaccurate.” The government of Qatar did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.

Khan's lawyers acknowledged that his representatives had met with Highgate but stated they had “no knowledge of, let alone involvement in, the alleged activities” of the intelligence firms. There is no evidence suggesting Khan was personally involved in the operation.

Allegations, Counter-Allegations, and Kenyan Context

The allegations of sexual misconduct against Khan, which he categorically denies, became public in late 2024. He has since stepped aside from his duties pending the outcome of an independent UN investigation. People close to Khan have suggested the claims are part of a smear campaign backed by Israel, following his 2024 decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

This complex web of international intrigue has specific importance for East Africa. The ICC's involvement in Kenya after the 2007-2008 post-election violence, which left over 1,100 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, was a watershed moment for the country. The subsequent collapse of the cases against high-profile suspects, including President Ruto, left many victims feeling that justice was denied.

Khan's prior role as Ruto's lawyer has remained a point of discussion in Kenya. In August 2023, upon taking office as Chief Prosecutor, Khan recused himself from all Kenyan cases to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest. The recent closure of the investigation phase into the Kenyan situation by the ICC in November 2023 was met with disappointment by victims' groups. The current allegations of foreign states potentially interfering with processes linked to the Prosecutor's office will likely fuel further debate in Kenya about the court's vulnerability to political pressure and its ability to deliver impartial justice for victims of mass atrocities.

The UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services is conducting the external probe into the misconduct allegations against Khan. The outcome of that investigation, coupled with the disturbing revelations of covert surveillance, will be closely watched in Nairobi and other capitals where the ICC's promise of accountability has been tested.