Sending Kenyan police officers to Haiti still sparks controversy in Kenya. While the UN Security Council has given its agreement for the deployment of a multinational force in Haiti, this decision must still be validated by the Kenyan Parliament in accordance with the Constitution. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki recently defended the deployment during a parliamentary hearing.
The minister first addressed the question of financing the operation. According to him, UN member countries will cover the costs, estimated at nearly $600 million for one year. He also assured that the necessary resources must be available before Kenyan troops leave the country.
Responding to parliamentarians’ concerns about the impact of the deployment on Kenya’s internal security, Kithure Kindiki said it would not have any adverse consequences. However, he stressed that the fight against insecurity, particularly in the north of the country, remained a priority, and that measures would be taken to guarantee the security of Kenyans.
The minister also revealed that eleven other countries have promised to participate in the mission in Haiti, although their names have not been disclosed. He clarified that these troops would be deployed in support of Haitian security forces and not as an occupying force. Their mission would include helping to secure the country’s essential infrastructure.
However, the 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. He believes that this decision goes against the Kenyan Constitution. A next hearing is scheduled for November 16 regarding this appeal.
It is clear that the decision to send Kenyan police officers to Haiti raises debates and reservations at the national level. The question of financing and the impact on internal security remains at the center of concerns. It remains to be seen whether the Kenyan Parliament will ultimately validate this deployment and whether the High Court will rule in favor of the appeal filed against this decision. The future of this multinational mission in Haiti is therefore still uncertain.