The Orange Democratic Movement party has raised concerns on the planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to lead a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.
In a statement signed by Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the party wants the government to reconsider the decision, adding that the deployment has “no strategic geopolitical value to Kenya” making the move ill-advised.
ODM criticised the police to citizen ratio of 1 to 1,000 citizens which is against the recommended ration of 1 to 450, stating that the country does not have policemen to spare.
The party further noted that previous interventions in Haiti had been conducted by some of the most powerful nations on earth, resulting in disastrous outcomes on each occassion.
“There is therefore no gainsaying the fact that the breakdown of law and order, or the instability in Haiti, are not superficial issues that require mere policing. The root causes go deeper than that,” said Sifuna.
ODM also called on MPs to reject the deployment when the matter is brought before parliament.
“We call upon Members of Parliament to oppose the deployment of our men and women in uniform to Haiti should the matter be brought before Parliament.”
On Monday, the High Court temporarily blocked the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan Police officers to Haiti pending the hearing of a petition filed by the Thirdway Alliance Kenya.
