Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has reignited controversy around Kenya’s planned deployment of police officers to Haiti, alleging President William Ruto has personal financial motives behind the initiative.
During an interview on Citizen TV, Sifuna questioned Ruto’s insistence on proceeding with the mission despite a High Court ruling deeming it unconstitutional. He insinuated that the President stands to gain personally from the deployment, suggesting the truth will be revealed in due time.
“What is the thing that Ruto is going to gain from this deployment in Haiti?” Sifuna posed. “It doesn’t make sense to anyone else; to ordinary Kenyans, to the courts, why is he insisting?”
He further stated that he couldn’t “think of any other reason other than pecuniary interest,” accusing Ruto of prioritizing private gain over public good.
These remarks come after President Ruto, on January 30th, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the UN-approved mission despite the legal hurdle. He cited Haiti’s request for assistance and the mission’s humanitarian purpose as justifications for pushing forward.
“The mission can go ahead as soon as next week… We are on the bigger calling to humanity,” Ruto asserted during an interview in Rome.
Last week, High Court Judge Chacha Mwita declared the government’s plan to deploy National Police Service officers to Haiti Illegal and Unconstitutional.
While delivering the ruling, Justice Mwita noted that the National Security Council and National Police Service have no powers to deploy police outside Kenya.
“Article 240 does not mandate the Council to deploy police officers outside Kenya. Deployment should be as provided for in part 14 of the Act and only to a reciprocating country,” ruled Judge Chacha Mwita.
