Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said that the Constitution allows President William Ruto to deploy troops to Haiti with the approval of Parliament.
Speaking during a church service at St. Andrews ACK Ndenderu in Kiambu County on Sunday, October 8, Kindiki affirmed that there would be no violation of the law in the deployment of the Kenyan troops to the Carribean nation.
“The request by United Nations Security Council for deployment of Police officers to Haiti will be subject to Parliamentary approval. Article 240 of the Constitution requires Parliament to approve deployment of security forces to any peacekeeping mission in foreign nations,” Kindiki said.
“There will be no shortcuts or violation of the Constitution in deployment of our police officers to Haiti. Kenya has previously contributed troops to peacekeeping missions in Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Somalia and Congo.”
The CS further allayed fears over the safety of the Kenyan officers saying, “Deployment of our security officers to Haiti will not in any way compromise or undermine our commitment and responsibility to safety and security of our citizens.”
Kenya agreed to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti in a deal signed by Minister Jean Victor Génus and former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua last month.
resident William Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the agreement at the Kenyan Mission in New York, United States.
The United Nations Security Council voted to approve the Kenya-led mission last Monday. 13 nations voted in favour of the mission while China and the Russian Federation abstained.
UN senior human rights adviser Li Fung said Kenya had volunteered to join the multinational force at the request of UN Security Council member states. She added that pre-deployment training was an emerging issue recognised by the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, IPOA is actively seeking answers about the level of readiness and preparedness of the Kenyan officers who will be deployed.
Key UN Security Council resolutions for the mission include a one-year deployment, with a review after nine months, and significant financial support from the US government to facilitate the mission.
