Kenya court extends bar on deploying police to Haiti, lawyer says

NAIROBI (Reuters) – A Kenyan court has extended a temporary order that prevents the government from sending hundreds of police officers to Haiti as part of a United Nations-sanctioned mission to combat gang violence. The court order, which was filed by a lawyer representing the small opposition party Thirdway Alliance, argues that the decision to deploy officers abroad is illegal.

In response to a request for assistance from Haiti, Kenya had offered to send 1,000 officers in July to help restore security and aid in the country’s worsening crisis, which has led to the displacement of approximately 200,000 individuals due to gang violence.

The Kenyan government has committed to seeking parliamentary approval before deploying the officers.

“The court has extended the interim orders halting the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti until the petition is resolved,” said lawyer Ekuru Aukot, who also leads Thirdway Alliance. The initial order expired on Tuesday.

The case will continue on November 9, as stated by Aukot on X.

The head of Haiti’s democratic transition council has urged for prompt action on the plan to deploy foreign troops.

A comprehensive report on Haiti released by the United Nations last week illustrated a grim circumstance in the country, highlighting the increasing strength, wealth, and weaponry of the gangs. The report stated that gangs frequently employ rape as a means of terrorizing victims, as well as demanding money, controlling food supplies, and engaging in indiscriminate killings and kidnappings for ransom.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by George Obulutsa, Estelle Shirbon, and Alison Williams)