Kenya's High Court Blocks Deployment of Interventionist Police Force to Haiti
On November 16, Kenya's parliament approved a controversial government plan to deploy around 1,000 police officers to Haiti, despite a court order banning any deployment, pending the outcome of a legal challenge to the plan. The legal challenge is based on the fact that, according to the Constitution, only the military can be deployed abroad, not the police. The government has rejected this argument and is defending its case. The High Court will deliver its decision on January 26, 2024.
Ekuru Aukot, the
constitutional lawyer leading the legal action against the
deployment,
said that if the police are allowed to leave, he will appeal to
challenge the decision in the Court of Appeal, and possibly the
Supreme
Court, which will potentially further delay the mission. "Since
we have
filed a lawsuit against the Minister of the Interior, if the
deployment
continues, we will cite him for contempt of court," he said.
For its part, the opposition condemned the vote, saying a vote cannot take place on a matter before the courts. But the ruling party used its majority to approve the project. The country is part of the global community, MPs supporting the motion argued, and calls for help from other countries cannot be ignored. Kenyan President William Ruto supported the vote, saying, "Africa is keen to contribute to the freedom and security of Haiti."
Kenya's main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, said on local television in October: "Even before coming to Africa, Haiti is on the doorstep of the United States, which is the most powerful nation in the world. What is so unique about Kenya that it was chosen to lead the multinational force in Haiti? " The planned deployment of police forces in Haiti is causing opposition in the country. Ngugi wa Thiong'o -- the man considered the father of Kenyan literature -- defended the Haitian people and their opposition to foreign interference, saying: "If you know the history of Haiti, no black person would do that."
This article was published in
Volume 53
Number 11 - November 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M530119.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca