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"id": 234840,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/234840/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Konchella",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons",
"speaker": {
"id": 322,
"legal_name": "Gideon Sitelu Konchella",
"slug": "gideon-konchella"
},
"content": "The Refugees Bill, 2006, establishes structures within the Government necessary for handling of refugees matters. These include establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, which is an office in the Public Service; Refugees Affairs Committee and a Refugees Appeals Board. The Bill also stipulates for a process of recognising refugees and issuing them with identity cards in order to ensure that the Government knows who is within the country. This will enable us to better address issues of national security. It further stipulates where refugees will reside after recognition. This Bill also provides for the rights and duties of refugees in accordance with the laws of Kenya, as well as International Conventions. It provides conditions under which people can be denied refugee status, and circumstances under which they will cease to be refugees. It takes into consideration the special needs of children, women and other vulnerable persons. The Refugees Bill, 2006, also provides for management of refugee camps, with due regard to hygiene and environment. My Ministry recognises that the Refugees Bill, 2006, in its present form, does not comprehensively address the concerns of hosting communities on the environment and security issues. For this reason, my Ministry, together with the Departmental Committee on Adminstration, National Security and Local Authorities, convened a two-day workshop which was attended by hon. Members from refugee-hosting areas and other stakeholders to deliberate on the Bill. The key proposed recommendations to protect our national interests provide for protection for host communities, protect the environment, improve the structure of management, and ensure that Kenya upholds its obligations in international protection. Some of the proposed amendments to the Bill have already been alluded to in the preceding paragraphs. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to make some key proposals, in a more elaborate manner, that are contained in the proposed amendments as follows. First is to include a new provision under the duties of Commissioner for Refugees Affairs, which requires the Commissioner to ensure that the economic productive activities of refugees do not have a negative impact on host communities, natural resources and the local environment. In the same spirit, the Commissioner is required to ensure sustainable use of resources in the designated refugee-hosting areas. It has also been recommended that the Commissioner should advise the Minister on 3632 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 14, 2006 soliciting of funds to help Kenya to host refugees and ensure that the funds also benefit the host communities. We have also recommended that the Minister should consult host communities before designating areas to host refugees. We have also come up with recommendations for the Bill to be made gender-sensitize and provide special protection for vulnerable groups such as women and children. In the Bill, we have also proposed amendments to improve the structure of refugees management by creating a Refugees Affairs Committee, which will be an inter-ministerial committee with responsibilities to input into policy decisions on refugee matters. The Refugees Bill, 2006, with the proposed amendments, is the only instrument that will provide Kenya with a legal framework needed to manage the refugees situation effectively. In terms of security, an alien registration exercise commenced in February, 2006, in Nairobi. The on going registration exercise in Dadaab is contributing to Kenya's security situation by collecting critical information on who are present in Kenya as refugees. The Government has already sourced and begun receiving funding to support this exercise. Funds were received from donors such the Danish Government for the purposes of capacity building for effective management of refugees affairs. The Ministry has considered all these issues which were raised, before reintroducing the Refugees Bill, 2006, together with proposals from hon. Members who attended our workshop. This Bill promises a high level of protection of Kenyan interests as it fulfils our obligations to refugees. With those few remarks, I beg to move and request the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wetangula, to second the Bill."
}