Kenyan lawyers move court to stop police deployment to Haiti

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Kenya's plan to send a 1,000-strong police force to lead a UN-backed multinational force in Haiti faces a new legal challenge as a team of Kenyan lawyers have filed a petition in the High Court against the deployment.

Lawyer Ekuru Aukot told Anadolu the Kenyan government's decision to deploy forces to Haiti violates the constitution by failing to secure a valid agreement with a legitimate Haitian authority.

"First of all, it is unconstitutional, it is illegal because the national police cannot be deployed to Haiti, there is no government in Haiti to give us such a request," Aukot stated, emphasizing the constitutional requirement for such agreements before deploying troops abroad.

"As a Kenyan, I am looking at the fact that why should my country be used to go and clean up people's mess, that was caused by the French, the Americans, and the Canadians…? Kenya doesn't deserve that," he told Anadolu.

The lawyers (Ekuru Aukot and Miruru Waweru) argue that without a clear legal framework and a formal agreement with a Haitian authority, the deployment would jeopardize the safety and well-being of Kenyan personnel.

This legal challenge comes as Kenya faces mounting pressure to address the escalating violence and political instability in Haiti.

The High Court is expected to hear the petition in the coming days.

The United States has pledged $100 million in funding for the UN-led mission if approved by Congress, and several other countries, including Canada, Jamaica, and Senegal, have expressed their support for the initiative.

Haiti has been struggling with gang violence and political instability for years. The situation has worsened in recent months, with kidnappings, killings, armed robberies, and other violent crimes becoming commonplace.

Haiti has called for international assistance to help restore order and security.