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Ruto Vows Haiti Deployment Despite Court Block
Plans to send 1,000 Kenyan police officers to lead a peacekeeping mission in Haiti have hit a major roadblock after a court ruled the deployment illegal. The decision has sparked a political firestorm, with President William Ruto accused of defying the ruling and opposition leaders warning against foreign interference.
Last week, Kenya’s High Court ruled that the National Security Council, chaired by President Ruto, lacked the authority to deploy regular police outside the country. The court argued that such missions, like the one in Haiti, should involve the military, not police, and require a reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti.
Despite the ruling, President Ruto remains determined to see the mission through. He told Reuters that he anticipates a request from Haiti soon that meets the court’s demands, reiterating his belief in the “bigger calling to humanity” driving the initiative.
Ruto’s stance has drawn fierce criticism from opposition leader Ekuru Aukot, who successfully challenged the deployment in court. Aukot accuses the president of misconstruing the court’s orders and insists that police deployment abroad remains unconstitutional, regardless of any agreements. He further criticizes a senior foreign ministry official for allegedly misleading the president on the legal aspects of the matter.
“President William Ruto says he will defy the court order of declaring deployment of 1000 police officers to Haiti unconstitutional and illegal. The president needs help, whether it’s counseling or some other type of help- but he needs it,” Aukot posted on X.
The issue is further complicated by international involvement. The US expressed support for Kenya’s appeal against the ruling, while the opposition warned against foreign meddling in Kenyan internal affairs. Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party Tuesday warned the United States against interfering in the court ruling barring the government from deploying police to Haiti. “We urge the US government and all other entities to respect the autonomy of our courts,” said Martha Karua, Narc-Kenya party leader, reading a joint statement after an Azimio summit in Nairobi. “The High Court has spoken, and its ruling must be upheld.”
Haiti Expresses Hope After Kenyan Court Ruling
The Haitian government expressed hope for a “swift and positive outcome” Sunday, following a Kenyan court ruling that temporarily blocked the deployment of Kenyan police officers to assist the troubled island nation’s security forces.
The ruling on Friday cast doubt on the future of a United Nations-backed multinational force long sought by Haiti, which has grappled with a spiraling security crisis for years. Kenya had previously pledged to provide up to 1,000 personnel, an offer welcomed by the United States and other nations hesitant to commit their own troops on the ground.
“We are following developments in Kenya and expect a swift and positive outcome,” the Haitian government said in a statement, expressing gratitude for the international community’s support in restoring order and security.
The Kenyan government has vowed to challenge the high court ruling, with President William Ruto calling the mission a “humanitarian endeavor” aligned with Kenya’s longstanding commitment to peacekeeping efforts.
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has been plagued by instability for years, with armed gangs controlling parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence. The 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse further plunged the nation into chaos, with no elections held since 2016 and the presidency remaining vacant.
The multinational mission, initially approved for a one-year period, aimed to pair Kenyan police with their Haitian counterparts, who are often outmatched and outgunned by gang members. The United Nations Security Council greenlighted the mission in early October.
In its statement, the Haitian government urged its citizens “to remain calm, to support our security forces and not to allow themselves to be intimidated by disinformation campaigns and threats of violence.”
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