A Kenyan court has temporarily halted the government’s plan to send police to Haiti as part of a UN-backed mission to restore peace in the gang-infested nation.
The UN Security Council recently approved a Kenyan-led multinational security force for Haiti, with Kenya committing to provide 1,000 police officers.
However, opposition politician Ekuru Aukot challenged the deployment in court, arguing that it was unconstitutional and lacked legal or treaty support.
The court, acknowledging the national importance and public interest in the matter, issued an order preventing the deployment of police officers to Haiti or any other country until October 24, 2023.
Haiti has been grappling with ongoing violence, economic challenges, and a struggling healthcare system.
Kenya’s deployment details are still pending parliamentary approval as required by law.
The UN mission aims to support Haitian police, help restore security, and create conditions for holding elections, which have not occurred since 2016.
The deployment has faced criticism at home, with concerns raised about the mission’s risks and the past use of lethal force by Kenyan police.
President William Ruto has defended it as a “mission for humanity,” and the Interior Minister emphasized that proper parliamentary approvals will be sought to ensure national security is not compromised.
Kenya, known as a democratic anchor in East Africa, has a history of participating in peacekeeping operations in various regions worldwide, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.