NAIROBI: Kenya said on Thursday that it would not be sending its police to Haiti unless the UN-backed multinational mission was fully funded by the world body’s member countries.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said that the overall budget for the one-year deployment aimed at restoring calm in the gang-plagued Caribbean country was 600 million dollars, pending a final review.
Kindiki told a parliamentary committee that the resources for this mission would be arranged or mobilised among the member countries of the United Nations. Unless all resources are availed and mobilised, Kenyan soldiers will not leave the country, according to western media.
The UN Security Council gave the green light in early October for the Kenya-led mission to assist the overwhelmed Haitian police battle rampant gang violence.
Nairobi has said that it is ready to provide up to one thousand personnel, and Kindiki said that eleven countries have committed to the mission, without naming them.
He added that Kenya was not sending an occupation force, it was sending a force to support the already existing structures in Haiti based on their request.
Kenyan court prevents government from sending force
A Kenyan court has issued an order preventing the government from sending any police until it rules on a petition challenging the deployment.
The Nairobi High Court is hearing a case brought by opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who argued the mission was unconstitutional as it was not supported by any law or treaty.
Kindiki said that preparations would continue despite the court challenge.
The High Court is due to hold another hearing on the case on 16 November, while Kenya’s parliament is also yet to approve the deployment as required by law.
