President William Ruto now says that the plan to send 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti will go on, despite the court terming the process illegal.
In a ruling on Friday last week, the High Court prohibited the National Security Council from deploying police officers to Haiti
Speaking on Tuesday, Ruto said that what the court said had been greatly misinterpreted.
The President said Kenya already has bilateral relations with the Caribbean nation and that remains for Haiti to make a formal request to Kenya, to have the officers deployed.
"I think there is a misinterpretation of what the court did," Ruto told Reuters on the sidelines of the Italy-Africa summit.
"We already have bilateral relations with Haiti, all that needs to be done now is for Haiti to make a request to Kenya and the mission will go ahead."
The Head of state also noted that once all the paperwork is done, in accordance with directions given by the High Court, the officers can be deployed to Haiti as soon as next week.
"So, that mission can go ahead as soon as next week, if all the paperwork is done between Kenya and Haiti on the bilateral route that has been suggested by the court," he said.
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita in his ruling said the manner used in the proposed deployment is unconstitutional, null and void.
He said the National Security Council has no legal mandate to deploy police officers under the law, adding that it can only do so with the defence forces.
"An order is hereby issued prohibiting the purported deployment of police officers to Haiti or any other country, otherwise and in contrary with Sections 107 and 108 of the National Police Service (NPS) Act," he ruled.
He added that any other action taken by any other state organ in furtherance of the deployment decision would also be invalid, null and void.
Haiti first sought help in 2022 as gang violence surged but was unable to find anyone willing to take charge of the mission.
However, in July last year, Kenya took up the role and offered 1,000 officers to lead the mission.
Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica are also expected to send hundreds of officers to support the mission aimed at dismantling gangs that have taken the country hostage.
