Gov’t to challenge High Court ruling on deployment of Kenya police to Haiti

The Kenya Kwanza government now says it will appeal the decision of the High Court declaring the deployment of the Kenya police to Haiti.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Chacha Mwita said the National Security Council has no mandate to deploy officers to another country.

"Any decision by any state organ or state officer to deploy police officers to Haiti... contravenes the constitution and the law and is therefore unconstitutional, illegal and invalid. An order is hereby issued prohibiting deployment of police forces to Haiti or any other country," ruled Justice Chacha.

Government Spokesman Dr. Isaac Mwaura, in a subsequent statement, said that although the administration respects the rule of law, it is determined to bring peace to the Caribbean nation hence will not abandon that mission easily.

“The government of Kenya takes note of the High court’s ruling regarding the deployment of the Kenya police to help in the Multi-national Security Support (MSS) mission for the restoration of law and order in Haiti,” he said.

“While the government respects the rule of law, we have however made the decision to challenge the high court’s verdict forthwith.”

Dr. Mwaura went ahead to note that, just as the government of Kenya has always endeavoured to stand with other countries during troubling times, it will also support Haiti.

“Kenya has an outstanding track record of contributing to peace keeping missions internationally in countries such as; South Sudan, Namibia, Croatia, Liberia, Sierra Leone among others,” said the Government Spokesman.

“The government reiterates its commitment in honoring its international obligations as a member of the community and comity of nations.”

The National Security Council, in October last year, petitioned Parliament to approve the deployment of Kenyan police officers on a UN-backed security mission to war-torn Haiti. The National Assembly has since approved the deployment.

On its part, the National Security Council already okayed the proposed deployment but in line with Article 240 (8) of the Constitution, Parliament had to approve any deployment of national security forces outside the country.