Images of Kenyan police officers on international mission
At the heart of a controversy in Kenya, the sending of Kenyan police officers to Haiti continues to be discussed. Approved by the UN Security Council at the beginning of October, this deployment must still be validated by the Kenyan Parliament. Despite criticism, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki argued in favor of the mission during a parliamentary question session last Thursday.
One of the concerns raised by parliamentarians concerns the financing of this operation. The minister assures that the costs will be covered by UN member countries, amounting to approximately $600 million for a period of one year. However, he specifies that Kenyan troops will not leave until the necessary resources are available.
Another concern concerns the impact of this mission on the internal security of Kenya, faced with problems of insecurity, particularly in the north of the country, with the presence of criminal groups and Shebab Islamists. The minister affirms that sending police officers will not have consequences on the security of Kenyans, and adds that the mission is planned to support Haitian structures, and not to occupy the territory.
Finally, Kithure Kindiki reveals that eleven other countries have committed to participating in this mission in Haiti. Their role will be to provide support to the Haitian national police and secure the country’s essential infrastructure.
Despite the approval of the UN Security Council, this deployment of Kenyan police officers was suspended by a decision of the Nairobi High Court following an appeal filed by a lawyer and political opponent. The latter believes that this mission is contrary to the country’s Constitution. A hearing is scheduled for November 16 to rule on this appeal.
In conclusion, sending Kenyan police officers to Haiti is causing heated discussions in Kenya. While the deployment has been approved internationally, it still needs to be validated by the Kenyan Parliament. Questions of financing and internal security are at the center of the debates, and a decision from the High Court is expected to clarify the situation.