The High Court on Monday blocked the Interior Ministry from approving a proposal to deploy Kenyan police officers to Haiti, a mission expected to restore peace in the troubled Caribbean Island.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued a conservatory order blocking the government from deploying 1,000 police to Haiti following approval by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on October 2.
''That a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from deploying police officers to Haiti or any other country until October 24, 2023,'' Justice Mwita ordered.
The petition, filed by the Third Way Alliance through Ekuru Aukot on October 6, challenged the move's legality, which could derail the US-backed mission.
According to Justice Mwita, the court was satisfied that the questions the petitioners raised in their suit were issues of national importance that required urgent consideration.
The respondents therefore were ordered to file their responses within three days of the ruling.
''That the petitioners will then have three days after service to file and serve a supplementary affidavit, if any, together with the written submissions to the petition, not exceeding 10 pages,'' the court document read.
''That once served, the respondents will have 3 days to file and serve written submissions to the petition also not exceeding 10 pages,'' partly read the order.
The petition in question was filed by Third Way Alliance and Miruru Waweru wherein the two parties sued Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and four others.
The United Nations Security Council approved a multinational force led by Kenya to deploy police to the gang-dominated Haiti to restore peace.
Of the 15 council members, 13 voted to approve the deployment while 2 abstained and none voted against it.
The United States has already committed to funnel Ksh14.8 billion ($100 million) to assist Kenya in the mission.
