High Court blocks deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti

The petitioners argue that the constitution does not envisage the deployment of the police service outside Kenya adding that deployment of police officers or the forces outside Kenya is a matter of great public interest and importance and can only be done in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

"As a matter of international notoriety, there is currently no elected government in Haiti. Kenya does not have an Embassy in Haiti,” reads court papers.

They further argue that there was no public participation prior to Kenya’s request which ought to have come first.

"The petitioners are playing with a sensitive and serious matter of security and behaving in a manner that suggests that they are not accountable to the people of Kenya for their decisions,” they argue.

Delivering the orders, Justice E.C Mwita directed that the pleadings be served on the respondents immediately. 

"That a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from deploying police officers to Haiti or any other country until 24th October 2023," directed the judge.

Once served, the respondents will have three days to file and serve written submissions to the petition, also not exceeding 10 pages.

Last Monday, the United Nations Security Council approved a yearlong multinational security mission for Haiti, led by Kenya. A dozen other countries including Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda have said they would join the mission.

Kenya has pledged to deploy 1,000 security personnel for the mission seeking to combat a decades-long gang violence characterized by widespread murders, kidnappings and extortion.