The High Court of Kenya has issued a restraining order against the government’s plan to send police officers to assist in tackling gangs in Haiti.
The judge reasoned that such deployment would be unlawful since the National Security Council lacks the legal mandate to dispatch police personnel beyond Kenya’s borders. According to the judge, the council is only authorized to deploy armed forces for peacekeeping endeavors, such as those in Haiti.
Last year, Kenya volunteered to lead a multinational security initiative in Haiti aimed at quelling rampant gang violence. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had urgently requested the UN to deploy a multinational force, citing the pervasive control of 80% of Port-au-Prince by criminal gangs.
The UN Security Council endorsed Kenya’s proposal to spearhead the force, which was subsequently approved by Kenyan lawmakers.
Opposition leader Ekuru Aukot, who initiated the legal challenge, hailed the court’s decision as a victory for Kenya. He argued that Kenya should prioritize addressing its internal security issues before committing officers abroad.
Aukot criticized President William Ruto, accusing him of leveraging the deployment to enhance his international standing and curry favor with Western nations like the US.
President Ruto defended the decision, citing Kenya’s commendable track record in participating in global peace support missions. He emphasized that the deployment would afford officers the opportunity to enhance their skills and expertise in maintaining security.
Before the court ruling, an anonymous police officer revealed to the BBC that officers had undergone two months of rigorous training, encompassing weapon handling, instruction on international laws, and familiarization with Haiti’s terrain.
