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{
    "id": 1547874,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547874/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 46,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Musalia Mudavadi",
    "speaker_title": "The Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Diaspora Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 84,
        "legal_name": "Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi",
        "slug": "musalia-mudavadi"
    },
    "content": "Moyale Township – 272, North Horr – 206, Maikona – 59, Sangate-Jaldesa - 40, Turbi – 13, Other areas - 37. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the majority of the refugees were not willing to return to their area of origin due to fear of ethnic conflict. They also preferred to move to areas that are inhabited largely by the Borana community. The Kenyan refugees in Ethiopia still retained their identity cards and are now willing to return home to Kenya voluntarily. The second part of the Question is about facilitation on the repatriation of the Kenyan refugees. The following are possible options- (1) There is an organized and facilitated return by the UNHCR. This requires a formal engagement between the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia and is formalized through a tripartite agreement that will include the UNHCR. It will require a rigorous process that entails internal survey to go and see visits, identification of settlement areas, signing of voluntary repatriation forms and other bureaucratic processes. This option may not be immediate as it requires time in order to fulfill all the requirements. (2) There is also the self-organized or self-return, which is usually spontaneous. The role of the UNHCR in this option will be limited to provision for information and funding to facilitate the return of the refugees. This option requires the Government of Kenya to facilitate receiving and resettlement of repatriated individuals. (3) Due to the proximity of the refugees to the Ethiopia-Kenya border, their families in Kenya, including the possibility that they cross over to Kenya to visit their families, UNHCR prefers the self-organized return. For repatriation to take place, the refugees must desire to return. The Kenya- Ethiopia government should engage in consultations facilitated by the UNHCR Regional Bureau and local UNHCR offices. Currently, as I said, 4,993 individuals have expressed their desire to return back to Kenya, and the process of repatriation should begin. The third aspect was the measures put in place to ensure successful reintegration of the repatriated refugees into the local community. This has quite a number of issues which I will try and run through. They may not be exhaustive, but it is important. There are a number of concerns which need to be addressed that have been expressed and should be addressed before repatriation can take place. These include the following- (1) Where will the displaced persons return to? How will they be accommodated? That is land, housing, among others. The refugees have been relying on humanitarian assistance to access basic services and they will need similar support until they are fully integrated. (2) We will have to deal with the issue about their safety and security in the settlement areas. There has to be a proper formal reception organized. (3) We also have to cater for the material safety of the younger generation who are born in Ethiopia. The refugees will require assurance of legal safety, rehabilitation, creation of livelihood opportunities, and in some instances, repossession of property, including ancestral land. (4) We will also have to address intermarriage, births in Ethiopia and confirmation of documentation for spouses and children. (5) There is also a need for mutual recognition of the documentation of issues to the refugees because we are dealing with the other country as well. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}