MPs Greenlight Police Deployment to Aid Haiti Crisis
On Thursday, members of parliament approved the deployment of one thousand police officers to Haiti on behalf of a peacekeeping mission, notwithstanding the conservatory order issued by the court against the operation.
The Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security and the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations introduced the motion in Parliament.
“Taking into consideration the recommendations of the joint committee, this House approves the deployment of officers of the National Police Service to the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti,” read part of the statement by the National Assembly as drafted in the order paper.
The motion for debate was authorized by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Sholei, who noted that the court petition prohibiting the deployment of the police service to quell violence in Haiti had not been served with the National Assembly.
“Under provisions of article 248 A, this House approves the deployment of the NPS to the Multinational Peacekeeping to Haiti,” read the Deputy Speaker.
Supporting the motion for the deployment of police to Haiti were several members of parliament (MPs) affiliated with the Kenya Kwanza coalition, including the leader of the National Assembly Majority, Kimani Ichung’wah.
Ichung’wah argues that the court ought to await the legislature’s decision before issuing a ruling on the matter, while the legislator further challenges the parliament’s assertions that the matter is sub judice.
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“Our standing orders do not stop us from discussing matters, so honorable Speaker you may allow people to even refer without going into the facts that are being prosecuted before the court,” Ichung’wah noted.
Nonetheless, several MPs allied with the minority opposed the motion’s approval. Opiyo Wandayi, the leader of the minority and a member of parliament from Rarieda, was among those who opposed the motion’s approval.
Parliament was accused of sub judice by Otiende Amollo, who offered his opinion on the matter and noted that the court order prohibiting the deployment of police to Haiti also prohibited its discussion in any forum.
In response to the approval, constitutional counsel and activist Ekuru Aukot expressed concern that the case continued and that members of parliament were at risk of being charged with contempt of court.
“Our Parliamentarians disobeying court order. We are this morning before Justice Mwita in Court 1 for the hearing of the petition. Meanwhile, our Parliament has sold its soul to the USA to go clean the mess they caused in Haiti,” Aukot responded.
MPs Greenlight Police Deployment to Aid Haiti Crisis