Court Restrains Kenyan Government From Deploying Police Officers To Haiti

A High Court has issued a restraining order against the government, halting the deployment of police officers to Haiti.

This follows a suit by Thirdway Alliance against the government to block the move, arguing that it did not get parliamentary approval.

Listed as respondents in the suit are Kenyan President, William Ruto, the National Security Council, Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Attorney-General Justin Muturi.

The chairperson of Thirdway Alliance, Miruru Waweu had last week Friday approached the court, arguing that the constitution does not permit the deployment of Kenyan police officers outside the shores of the country.

“That a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from deploying police officers to Haiti or any other country until October 24, 2023,” the Presiding Judge, Justice, Enock Chacha Mwita said.

The court therefore adjourned the suit till October 24 for the substantive hearing.

Earlier, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said that the Constitution allows President William Ruto to deploy the 1000 officers to Haiti with the approval of Parliament.

“Article 240 of the constitution requires that for the president to deploy any forces outside the country whether it is KDF or any other force that constitutes organs of national security, parliament must approve,” Kindiki said.

Last week, President William Ruto welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s approval of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, promising that the people of Haiti will finally get justice.

“This is a mission for humanity, which connects boldly and directly with the founding principles of the United Nations, and affirms our shared hope that justice is finally coming to the people of Haiti,” the president said in a statement hours after the USNC voted in favour of the mission.

In the 10-minute pre-recorded address from State House Nairobi, President Ruto exuded confidence that the “historic” operation will succeed.

“We will succeed in Haiti. We must not fail the people of Haiti,” he said.