Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1008342,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1008342/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 300,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "and conventions that have been passed and which as per as our Constitution, we have already domesticated. Clause 3 of the Bill basically provides the definition of a refugee. The details of that are contained within the Bill. So, I really do not want to go through all that. We are talking of refugees in Kenya, who are obviously here because they fear persecution because of their cultural, religious or political beliefs. They have left their countries of origin and migrated into Kenya. We then need to figure out how we know that person ‘A’ is a refugee and person ‘B’ is not. The Bill basically puts that into context and defines who a refugee is. It is one who has been compelled to leave his or her place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge in another place outside his or her country of origin or nationality due to all those other conditions and unstable public order within their country of origin. It also gives the Cabinet Secretary in charge of refugee affairs, on recommendation of the Refugee Advisory Council, to designate a person a refugee. The Bill establishes some administrative units under Part II, which is basically the Department of Refugee Services. It also establishes the Refugee Advisory Committee and the Refugee Status Appeals Committee, whose organs will work together in terms of determination and management of refugees. Particularly, Clause 7 establishes the Department of Refugee Services. Clause 9 establishes the Refugee Advisory Committee, and Clause 11 establishes the Refugee Status Appeals Committee. Basically, this Committee will succeed the Refugee Appeals Board that was established under the Refugees Act, 2006, and whose main functions shall be to hear and determine appeals. This Bill contains elaborate provisions that relate to regulation of application for refugee status and these are captured in Part III. We will get a detailed report from the Members who have scrutinised the Bill. Clause 13 establishes the Refugees Status Eligibility Panel, whose functions shall be to review recommendations made on refugee status determination. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, allow me to give a brief summary of the content of the Bill. Part I, as usual, contains the preliminary provisions, which include the Short Title, the commencement date, interpretation and definitions as to who can be included or excluded from the refugee status and when one ceases being a refugee. Part II of the Bill contains provisions on administrative matters. Part III contains provisions on application for refugee status. Part IV contains provisions on reception for refugees and asylum seekers. Basically, it contains provisions on how refugees are treated from the time they enter into Kenya, how they are designated, the duties of the refugee reception officers and security screening. All those are captured within Part IV. Within Part V, we are looking at the rights and duties of the refugees and the asylum seekers within Kenya. Part VI looks at the control of the designated areas. For example, Kakuma is a designated area. Members need to just look through this part because it also provides for the requirements to reside within a designated area, how to control a designated area, and how to restrict persons within that area. It also provides the link between the national and county Governments. Obviously, these people will be within counties. That is all that is covered within Part VI. Part VII covers the whole issue of integration, repatriation and resettlement of refugees because one cannot be a refugee forever. At some point, they will need to be reintegrated back into their communities or within the host community. This part provides for the modality of doing that. Particularly, it provides for consideration of refugees in terms of development matters - including The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}