Friday October 27, 2023 ((rezonodwes.com))–In Kenya, the National Security Council on Wednesday asked Parliament to approve the deployment of Kenyan police officers as part of a UN-backed security mission in Haiti, a Caribbean country plagued by war since institutionalization of gangs by Michel Martelly who appointed Ariel Henry his Minister of the Interior in 2015, before the holding of “rigged” elections in September and October of the same year.
According to a communication sent to the National Assembly by President Moses Wetangula on Wednesday, the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security will have to review the planned deployment and submit. a report to the House for consideration within the next two weeks.
For its part, the National Security Council has already approved the proposed deployment but, in accordance with Article 240 (8) of the Constitution, Parliament must approve deploy any national security forces outside the country.
Article 240 (8) states that “The Council may, with the approval of Parliament, (a) deploy national forces outside Kenya for (i) regional or international peace support operations; or (ii) other support operations; (b) approve the deployment of foreign forces in Kenya.”
“I am referring the memorandum to the departmental committee on administration and internal security for review. The committee is required to review the memorandum pasted with the relevant Senate committee and submit its report to the Houses of Parliament no later than November 8, 2023 to enable this matter to be resolved in a timely manner“said President Wetangula.
Meanwhile, in a petition filed by Dr. Ekuru Aukot, leader of the Third-way Alliance Kenya, and two other petitioners at the Supreme Court, they argue that the Constitution does not contemplate the deployment of police services outside Kenyaadding that the deployment of police officers or armed forces outside Kenya is a question of great importance and public interest and can only be done in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Further, they assert that « As far as international notoriety is concerned, there is currently no elected government in Haiti. Kenya does not have an embassy in Haiti“, we can read in the court documents.
They also claim there was no public participation before Kenya’s request, which should have come first.
