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{
    "id": 1008389,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1008389/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this timely Bill. We need to look into the issues of refugees in the country with some form of finality. Kenya has hosted refugees for a long time – almost since Independence as turmoil ravaged through Africa and people had to move and be accommodated in other countries where there was peace. Amongst communities hosting refugees, there is the notion that refugees are actually treated better than our citizens. That is why refugees lead better lives. They may be lives of supply without much work but this is because of the sort of laws we have in the country. I was privileged to join the stakeholders while doing public participation in respect of this Bill. I visited Kakuma Refugee Camp. Then there was another settlement called Kalubei, which was meant to actually move the refugees from the initial status to some status akin to becoming Kenyans. This Bill will deal with the reception and registration of refugees, which is very important. This is because we also know that there are criminals who commit atrocities in their countries and they find refuge in our country. We must be able to vet so that we only give refugee status to those who qualify. This Bill also forms institutions that will govern the discharge of duties pertaining to refugees. This is very important. However, most importantly, there must be a provision to fund those institutions because the complaints we have is that there is no money set aside for the relevant Ministry to fund activities of such agencies. This Bill should address such complaints. Let me touch on the rights of refugees as enshrined in this Bill. They will have rights almost similar to those of Kenyans, including right to education, work and many other human rights. I agree fully that refugees are human beings. We must treat them with dignity and respect. We must accord them what is due to them. However, while we are trying to integrate refugees into our society, we must not lose track of the fact that Kenyan citizens carry the primary role, citizenship is paramount and that we must at least treat our citizens first and foremost before we go to refugees. When it comes to work, we know there is an acute shortage of work in the country. Unemployment is ravaging our country. So, as we consider refugees for work, we must bear in mind that we have hundreds of thousands of young people in the country who have no jobs. Graduates from universities, technical training institutes and colleges are jobless. So, we must protect these ones first. When it comes to education, we must also look at the form of education we are giving to our citizens before we go to refugees. This is because we know very well that there are some counties in Kenya where the level of education and infrastructure is wanting. We 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."
}