Kenya's President Ruto remains determined to proceed with Haiti mission despite court ruling

Opposition leader Ekuru Aukot has accused Kenyan President William Ruto of planning to defy a court ruling against the deployment of police to Haiti. Aukot successfully challenged the planned deployment in court, arguing that only the army, not the police, could be deployed. The court agreed with Aukot, declaring the mission illegal. However, Ruto stated that the deployment could proceed if all necessary paperwork was completed. Last year, Kenya's parliament ratified the deployment of 1,000 officers to lead a multinational force in Haiti, where gangs are seeking to expand their control. The court ruled that the National Security Council, led by the president, does not have the authority to deploy police outside the country, emphasizing that only the military can be deployed for peacekeeping missions like the one in Haiti. The court also stated that a reciprocal agreement between the two nations must be in place before the deployment. Justice Chacha Mwita praised Kenya's offer to deploy police to Haiti but stressed that it must be executed within the confines of the law. Speaking at the Italy-Africa summit, Ruto expressed his confidence that a request would be made soon to meet the court's demands. The Kenyan government intends to appeal the court ruling, which the US supports. However, the Kenyan opposition has warned the US against interfering in Kenya's internal affairs. It remains unclear when the appeal will be filed and whether other countries will consider proceeding with the multinational mission independently. The Haiti gang violence has reached a critical point, with almost 5,000 deaths reported last year.