A Kenyan high court has blocked the government’s plans to deploy police officers to Haiti or any other country pending the hearing of a petition.

The judge cited issues raised in the application as being of national importance and public interest.

One of the petitioners, former presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot said the proposed deployment was unconstitutional.

It is argued that there is a question mark over whether regular police can actually be deployed on international assignments.

Mr Aukot added the country could not afford to spare 1,000 officers before addressing insecurity at home.

Last week ethnic clashes in western Kenya left seven people dead.

And recently the coastal region of Lamu has seen attacks from the Somalia-based al-Shabab militant group. The area is now under curfew.

Speaking on Sunday, the interior minister stressed that the deployment would not compromise the safety and security of the country.

The court will issue further directions at the end of October.