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{
    "id": 1008376,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1008376/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 334,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity. First of all, I want to thank the Chair and the Committee Members for this important Bill. The truth of the matter is that this Bill has gone through very intensive public participation. Most of the key institutions working in this area have been consulted and have given their input. The truth of the matter is that it has not been easy to get this Bill to where it is today because as Members are saying, there is a lot of interest coming from different stakeholders. One of the things that were quite difficult to get through in this Bill was the issue of balancing between human rights and national interest. Refugees come to this country and they have laws that safeguard them in terms of their own human rights. At the same time, even though we have opened the gates for them, we must also safeguard our national interests. These are things like what Hon. Manje was talking about – issues of national security and all that. Looking at the Bill, you will realise that there are provisions to take care of most of these areas. For example, who will qualify to be a refugee? What vetting processes would they go through before they are admitted? That is to ensure that their own human rights and their validity or eligibility as refugees is also factored into the whole process. The other issue is, and this has happened in this country, where we have had situations where communities living next to the refugee camps claim to be living a life worse than the refugees. Attempts have been made in this country where the local community wants to go in as refugees so that they can benefit. Basically what that is saying is that there are some of them who when they come to Kenya they will live better than Kenyans. The question we need to ask as national leaders is we must make sure that even as we accommodate refugees, they should not appear to be enjoying more than our people. To me, that would be sending a wrong signal to Kenyans. The other issue and the big question is, should we allow them to work? If you look at the Bill, you will find that there is a provision for them to be allowed to work. The people who push for human rights would say it is better they work and it makes sense. In a country like Kenya where unemployment is so high, what that means is, they will come and start competing for the fewer opportunities which are there for our people. To me, these are issues which need to come out very clearly in the Bill and it has tried to do so."
}