[Officials during the launch of a two-day Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit, March 24, 2017 at the KICC. Photo/Hivisasa.com] 

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The Kenyan government has been asked to protect and assist Somali refugees and asylum seekers facing ongoing conflict and a humanitarian crisis in Somalia. 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) asked the Ministry relevant authorities to abandon their decision to close the Dadaab refugee camp and publicly declare that the more than 249,000 Somali refugees living there should remain until when they will decide to leave by their own. 

“Kenya should demonstrate leadership by declaring that Dadaab will remain open and that it will resume prima facie recognition of Somali refugees,” said Bill Frelick, refugee rights director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. 

This comes as the Country hosts a two-day Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit which kicked off today (Friday). 

The Summit brings together Eastern African heads of state to discuss the situation of Somali refugees in the region, as the threat of pervasive drought and food insecurity in Somalia looms.  

Kenya’s role as host is marred by its continued insistence on closing Dadaab refugee camp, due to security concerns.  

In May last year, the government warned it would start a repatriation exercise for the refugees and called on for international support. 

However in February this year, the High Court ruled that the government’s directives was unconstitutional and discriminated against Somalis.