The state-run Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has moved to court to challenge the recent government declaration of closing the Daadab refugee camp.
KNCHR insists that the move is unconstitutional since it did not involve a public discussion before the decision was taken.
The rights group further argues, that the move is illegal and has far-reaching negative effects on the fundamental rights and freedom of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers within the republic since it deprives them vital services.
“A process that seeks to deny refugees and asylum seekers the rights accrued to them by failing to take into account their individual circumstances cannot be reasonable or fair,” states KNCHR.
In their case, KNHCR states that the closure of the camp will expose the refugees to persecution and danger if they are released without proper assessment of their safety concerns.
"All this will be a breach of various national, regional and international legal instruments protecting refugees as it fails to take into account individual needs and safety measures," states KNCHR.
According to the rights group, the blanket directive by the Kenyan government has no consideration for an individual refugee concerns and is both arbitrary and discriminative.