The International Criminal Court "has degenerated into a political instrument targeting Africa" and is "adversely affecting" Kenya, Ethiopia's prime minister declared Wednesday on behalf of the African Union.

Kenya should be allowed to "investigate and prosecute the cases under a reformed judiciary" provided for in the country's new Constitution, said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in a speech at the United Nations.

"We believe it is very critical to support the peace building and national reconciliation processes in the country," the leader of Ethiopia, which currently chairs the 54-member AU, added.

Mr Hailemariam's attack on the ICC's handling of the Kenya cases is the second launched by an African leader at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in the past 24 hours.

Ugandan Head of State Yoweri Museveni also criticised the ICC's role in Kenya specifically and Africa generally in a speech on Tuesday.

The ICC's recent refusal to permit the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto to take place in Kenya is "unhelpful," Mr Hailemariam further said.

He suggested that the ICC's insistence on holding the trials in The Hague is "adversely affecting the ability of the Kenyan leaders in discharging their constitutional responsibilities."

Noting that the United Nations has given "no response" to the AU's request for a deferral of the ICC prosecutions of Kenyans, Mr Hailemariam concluded his remarks on Wednesday by again urging the UN Security Council to respond.

The Ethiopian PM earlier in his speech reiterated the organisation's request for a deferral of the proceedings against Sudan President Omar al-Bashir.

Mr Bashir, who has been seeking to travel to New York, is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in connection with the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.