By Ian WafulaBBC News security correspondent, Nairobi26 January 2024, 10:01 GMTUpdated 28 minutes agoImage caption, In October last year, the UN Security Council endorsed Kenya’s offer to lead a multinational security force to HaitiThe Kenyan High Court has prohibited the government from sending police officers to tackle gangs in Haiti. The judge stated that the deployment would be unlawful as the National Security Council lacks the legal authority to dispatch police outside Kenya, clarifying that the council is only authorized to deploy military, not police, for peacekeeping missions like the one in Haiti. The judge also emphasized that Kenyan law permits the government to send police officers to another country only if a reciprocal agreement exists between Kenya and the host nation.Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti urgently requested the UN to deploy a multinational force, citing the overwhelming control of gangs in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The UN Security Council supported Kenya’s offer to lead the force, which was subsequently approved by Kenyan lawmakers. Responding to the possible deployment, community members in Haiti expressed mixed feelings. Laurent Uwumuremyi, the country director of Mercy Corp, believed that the mission could enable access to public infrastructure and address the humanitarian crisis, while others viewed it as unnecessary external intervention, considering it a waste of resources.Kenyan opposition leader Ekuru Aukot, who initiated the case, hailed the court ruling as a victory for the country, asserting that Kenya could not afford to spare officers while dealing with its own security challenges. Aukot criticized President William Ruto, claiming that the deployment was an attempt to boost his international image and gain favor with Western countries like the US. In response, President Ruto defended Kenya’s participation in peace support missions worldwide, citing the benefits of enhancing officers’ skills and experience. However, concerns were raised about the suitability of Kenyan police for the deployment and the potential for human rights violations.Nicole Widdersheim, deputy Washington director at Human Rights Watch, pointed to documented cases of Kenyan police violence, including murders, dating back to 2013. She also highlighted the history of international armed intervention in Haiti, expressing reservations about its impact. The Kenyan government refuted any allegations of human rights violations by its officers.One police officer who had undergone intensive training expressed disappointment at the court ruling, stating his preparedness and desire to enhance his experience through the deployment. Nevertheless, he resolved to utilize his training to serve in Kenya instead. This development followed recent criticism from Mr. Ruto, who accused corrupt judges of obstructing government policy.
