Kenyan Court Says Police Can't Deploy to Haiti

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Facts

  • Kenyan High Court Judge Chacha Mwita on Friday rejected the government's plan to deploy 1K police officers to Haiti to combat gang violence. Mwita said the plan, which was approved by the UN in October, could not be conducted without a 'reciprocal arrangement' with Haiti.1
  • Mwita ruled that the proposed deployment is 'unconstitutional, illegal, and invalid,' adding that he is thus 'prohibiting deployment of police forces to Haiti or any other country.'2
  • However, Kenyan Pres. William Ruto has described the proposed deployment as a 'mission for humanity.'2
  • Previously, a Kenyan opposition party in October objected to the plan and a court responded by issuing a stay for the deployment.1
  • If approved, the deployment would have Kenyan officers working alongside their Haitian counterparts on the frontlines of the battle against armed groups that have taken over parts of the Caribbean nation. The gangs have catalyzed social instability since the 2021 assassination of Pres. Jovenel Moise — devastating the economy and healthcare system.3
  • If approved, the deployment would have Kenyan officers working alongside their Haitian counterparts on the frontlines of the battle against armed groups that have taken over parts of the Caribbean nation. The gangs have catalyzed social instability since the 2021 assassination of Pres. Jovenel Moise — devastating the economy and healthcare system.4
  • According to a UN representative for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, the number of Haitians targeted by gang violence jumped 122% last year, with at least 4.7K people killed and over 2.4K kidnapped. Many of those kidnapped have had to sell their homes to make ransom payments.5

Sources: 1Reuters.com, 2Barrons.com, 3Axios, 4France24.com and 5Guardian.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by UN News. The international community, including Kenya, must step in to stop Haiti's suffering. Gangs are committing murders and other heinous crimes while forcing thousands of children out of school due to deteriorating security. This UN-backed mission was requested by the Haitian prime minister, and Kenya and other nations should heed his plea.
  • Narrative B, as provided by The Conversation. The UN can't be trusted, considering its horrible record on Haiti. A previous attempt by the blue helmets to combat gangs resulted in innocent lives lost and more heinous acts taking place. The UN's attempt to help after the 2010 earthquake was also a failure. Financial support would be more effective than putting UN representatives on the ground in Haiti.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by Grayzone. There may be nothing that can be done to help Haiti as long as a country as powerful as the US is holding the island back. From the George H. W. Bush presidency through today, US administrations have been involved in ousting and replacing duly elected leaders to benefit no one other than the US foreign policy establishment. Nothing positive will happen as long as foreign powers like the US keep meddling in Haiti's politics.

Predictions