The Kenyan parliament has given the green light for a deployment of a thousand police officers to Haiti, a country grappling with chaos and rampant gang violence under a UN-backed mission, amidst widespread criticism.
The small Caribbean nation is mired in gang violence, with 80% of its capital under the control of gangs. The UN representative in the country has reported a surge in serious crimes, reaching alarming levels.
“The ayes have it,” tersely declared parliamentary vice-president Gladys Boos Shollei, following a vocal vote by the elected representatives.
However, the deployment is currently on hold following a suspension by the Nairobi High Court. The court is yet to deliberate on an appeal filed by an opponent who has argued that the mission contravenes the constitution.
The decision by the Kenyan government to dispatch police officers to Haiti, a country known for its high level of instability and danger, has sparked strong criticism.
Human rights non-governmental organizations have raised concerns, citing the Kenyan police’s track record of using force, at times fatally, against civilians. This raises significant risks in a country where previous foreign interventions have been marred by human rights abuses.
Africanews/Hauwa M.
