Kenyan Court Rejects Government’s Plan to Deploy Police to Haiti for UN-backed Mission
In a surprising turn of events, a Kenyan court has ruled against the government’s plan to send police officers to Haiti as part of a UN-backed multinational mission. The decision comes despite the United Nations Security Council giving its approval for the Kenya-led mission, which aims to restore peace and security in the violence-stricken Caribbean nation.
Judge Enock Chacha Mwita delivered the verdict on Friday, stating that any decision to deploy police officers to Haiti would be unconstitutional and illegal. He emphasized that such a move would contravene the constitution and the law, rendering it invalid. As a result, the court issued an order prohibiting the deployment of Kenyan police forces to Haiti or any other country.
This ruling comes at a critical time when the Haitian government is desperately calling for the urgent deployment of a multinational force to assist its overwhelmed police in combating rampant gang violence. Haiti, known as the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, has been plagued by years of turmoil, with armed gangs seizing control of various regions and unleashing brutal violence. The country’s economy and public health system are in shambles, exacerbating the already dire situation.
The surge in gang-related violence can be traced back to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise nearly three years ago. Since then, Haiti has witnessed an alarming increase in homicides and kidnappings for ransom. According to the United Nations, between January and September 2023 alone, there have been 3,000 recorded homicides and over 1,500 kidnappings in the country. Frustrated by the government’s failure to address the insecurity, citizens have taken to the streets in protest, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
In October, the United Nations Security Council granted approval for the Kenya-led mission, which was hailed by President William Ruto as a “mission for humanity” in a nation scarred by colonialism. However, the planned deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers has faced criticism within Kenya itself. Opposition politician Ekuru Aukot filed a petition at the Nairobi High Court last year, challenging the government’s decision.
Meanwhile, Haiti’s foreign minister made an impassioned plea to the UN Security Council on Thursday, urging for the swift deployment of a multinational force. Jean Victor Geneus described the ongoing gang violence in Haiti as barbaric, comparing it to the horrors experienced in war zones. He expressed hope that his plea would be the last before the arrival of the much-needed support for Haiti’s security forces.
As of now, neither the Haitian nor the Kenyan governments have responded to the court ruling. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the already fragile situation in Haiti and whether alternative solutions will be sought to address the pressing issue of gang violence.