US in Support of Multinational Security Mission to Haiti After Kenyan Court Ruling

The US government says it supports ongoing international efforts to deploy a Multinational Security Support mission for Haiti.

This comes after a court in Nairobi stopped Kenya from deploying police to the Caribbean nation.

The US State Department said in a statement on Monday their commitment to the Haitian people remains unwavering.

“We reaffirm our support of ongoing international efforts to deploy a Multinational Security Support mission for Haiti, as requested by Haiti and authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 2699, and renew our calls for the international community to urgently provide support for this mission,” said the statement.

It added the US acknowledges the ruling by the High Court regarding the deployment of Kenyan police in support of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti and the government’s stated intent to challenge this ruling.

The statement added it is urgent that the international community respond to the unprecedented levels of gang violence and destabilizing forces preying upon the Haitian people.

Read: Gov’t to Challenge Ruling Blocking Deployment of Police to Haiti

“At the same time, we call for the restoration of democratic order through an inclusive political process in Haiti. We continue to urge Haitian stakeholders to reach consensus on power-sharing and inclusive governance.”

“The only legitimate path to long-term peace and stability is through free and fair elections,” added the statement.

High Court judge Justice Chacha Mwita said the National Security Council, which includes the President, does not have the powers to deploy regular police outside of the country.

Justice Chacha Mwita on Friday January 26 noted that the National Security Council and National Police Service do not have powers to deploy police outside the country.

Mwita made the ruling following an application made by Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot who wanted the court to block the deployment stating that it was illegal.

“To be clear, Article 240 does not mandate the Council to deploy police officers outside Kenya. Deployment should be as provided for in part 14 of the Act and only to a reciprocating country,” he ruled.

“It is not contested that there is no reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and Haiti and for that reason, there can be no deployment of police to that country.”

The judge acknowledged that Kenya’s offer to help mitigate a humanitarian crisis in Haiti was noble, however, he maintained that such deployment needed to be undertaken in accordance with the Constitution.

There are plans to appeal the ruling.

Read Also: Court Stops Deployment of Kenya Police to Haiti

Aukot filed his petition in court after Parliament approved the deployment of 1,000 officers to the Caribbean nation.

A team of Kenyan police to be deployed to Haiti has completed their training.

The teams from the Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit, and Border Patrol Unit completed their circulating training from various camps on January 4.

Officials said the team was told to take a brief rest ahead of a key ruling in court on the way forward on their planned deployment.

Plans were to hold a graduation event at GSU Recce squad headquarters in Ruiru to mark the start of the deployment.

Aukot sued President William Ruto and his administration in a bid to block the peacekeeping mission that will see the deployment of at least 1,000 police officers to the gang-ridden nation.
He argued that Kenya has not ratified any law or treaty to allow the deployment of police officers outside the country.

At stake is more than Sh30 billion the team will get from various stakeholders for deployment.

More than 1,000 officers will be picked from the Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit, and Border Patrol Unit to form a larger team for deployment.

These officers have paramilitary training and are likely to work well with other personnel from countries that have agreed to send theirs to Haiti for the same mission.

Kenya plans take the command and operations of about 3,000 personnel.