Germany has joined the US in pledging support for Kenya-led multinational mission to restore law and order in Haiti.
This was communicated by President William Ruto when he met Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the “G20 Compact with Africa” conference on Monday.
Ruto said Chancellor Scholz also committed to support peace efforts in the Horn of Africa region.
“Kenya and Germany share strong historic ties and considerable interests especially in trade, investment, environmental conservation and industrial promotion. We will build on these relations to benefit our people,” the President added.
The National Assembly last week on Thursday approved the proposed deployment of the National Police Forces to the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti where 1,000 troops will be sent to tame gang violence.
This was despite the High Court on the same day extending orders blocking the deployment.
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita said he would issue a ruling on January 26, 2024, effectively delaying the deployment of the mission that is backed by the UN Security Council.
The planned deployment was first blocked by the High Court in Nairobi in October following a petition by Thirdway Alliance party leader and former presidential candidate Dr Ekuru Aukot and party chairma Miruru Waweru arguing it was unconstitutional.
The petitioners say there was no request by the Haitian government, a Cabinet resolution on the plan and that the Constitution does not envisage the deployment of police officers outside Kenya.
The petitioners argue the deployment of the police officers is “not only nonsensical and irrational but also unconstitutional.”
The decision to deploy did not involve public participation and is also unconstitutional because only the Kenya military can be deployed outside the country, the petition says.
The petition has also asked the High Court to declare Sections 107, 108 and 109 of the National Police Service Act unconstitutional, as they clash with the Constitution.
The sections allow the President to deploy police officers to other countries that have good legal rapport with Kenya. However, the petitioners argue, the three laws are in conflict with articles 240 and 243 of the Constitution.
Article 240 gives authority to the National Security Council to deploy national forces outside the country; Article 243 establishes the National Police Service and gives it authority to operate throughout Kenya, while allowing Parliament to enact further laws to govern its enforcement.
The petition argues that Article 243 restricts the work of police officers to within Kenya’s borders.
