The National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security has revisited calls by the Government of Kenya to close down some refugee camps over “national security concerns”.
The committee’s vice chair John Waluke said some refugees and asylum-seekers have already heeded to the government's move, and voluntarily returned to their counties.
Addressing the media in Nakuru on Wednesday when the committee visited to collect public views on the Refugee Bill 2019, Waluke said with the security threats to Kenya from terrorists, the government's move was in order.
“We are worried as a country and that is why the government took such measures. But right now, about 300,000 refugees have gone back to their country Somalia voluntarily,” said Waluke.
Meanwhile, the refugees decried lack of involvement in key development issues due lack of government documents.
According to Kut McCain; Urban Refugee leader in Nakuru town, the Bill is restricting their movement and should be looked into through amendments.
“The Bill has several areas that need amendments so that we can have humanitarian approach” said McCain.
Waluke assured the refugees that as a committee, they will be visiting Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps to also get their views concerning the Bill sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Duale.
“The acts of Parliament that we are using concerning refugees some of them are old and do not conform to the new constitution hence the need to amend and that is why Duale came up with this Bill," he said.