Editor's Review

According to Sifuna, the constitution only mandates the National Police Service officers to conduct security operations in Kenya only.


The ODM party has opposed the planned deployment of Kenya Police officers to Haiti to help restore law and order under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna in a statement on Thursday listed six reasons why the party is opposed to the deployment of Kenyan police.

According to Sifuna, the constitution only mandates the National Police Service officers to conduct security operations in Kenya only.

At the same time, the ODM SG said the country's current security challenges make it unreasonable for Kenyan officers to be deployed in a different country for an operation yet Kenya is facing security challenges.

"The recommended ratio of police officers viz population is one for every 450 citizens. Kenya's ratio is around 1 for every 1000 citizens. We do not have policemen to spare.," Sifuna said.

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ODM SG Edwin Sifuna. IMAGE/FLE

He cited the security situation in Lamu County, Sondu, The North Rift Region, along the border of Somalia and within the Island of Lake Victoria as ones which are in dire need of security attention.

Sifuna adds that Kenya should not be obligated to send its security officers to Haiti for a peace mission since the existing security threats in the said country do not in a way pose a danger to Kenya.

At the same time, the Nairobi Senator pointed out that previous interventions in Haiti have proved futile adding that deploying the Kenya police is not a solution to the existing Haiti challenges.

"Given the documented human rights concerns involving our police forces, we do not believe that is a side of Kenya we need to display on the international stage," Sifuna added.

Further, the Senator says the deployment lacks the requisite parliamentary approval.

"The commitment to send our policemen to Haiti was made long before approval both of the UN and Kenya's Parliament was sought. In fact, given the current state of capture of Parliament, any pretence at seeking approval would be an afterthought meant to sanitize the process using Ruto's voting robots in parliament," Sifuna stated.