NAIROBI: Kenya’s government vowed on Friday to challenge a court verdict against its decision to send a police contingent to Haiti to lead a UN-backed law and order mission in the gang-plagued Caribbean country.
The decision, which branded the deployment “illegal”, throws into doubt the future of a multinational force long sought by the government of Haiti, which has pleaded for international help to confront violence that has left about 5,000 dead.
The UN Security Council approved the mission in early October 2023. But concerns in Kenya over Nairobi’s involvement prompted a court challenge.
On Friday, judge Enock Chacha Mwita gave a verdict that any decision by any state organ or state officer to send police officers to Haiti contravenes the constitution and the law and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, and invalid, AFP reported.
He said at Nairobi High Court that an order is hereby issued prohibiting deployment of police forces to Haiti or any other nation.
Hours later, the authorities responded, with spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stating that while the government respects the rule of law, we have however made the decision to challenge the high court’s judgement forthwith.
Kenya’s international obligations
He said that the government reiterated its commitment in honouring its global obligations.
Ekuru Aukot, the opposition politician who challenged the deployment, said he was prepared for a long fight.
Ekuru Aukot said that they would still be waiting for them at the court of appeal, and they would go all the way to the top court.
The government had previously said it was ready to provide up to one thousand personnel, an offer welcomed by the US and other countries that had ruled out putting their own forces on the ground.
