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{
    "id": 707380,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/707380/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 102,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) H.K. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1508,
        "legal_name": "Humphrey Kimani Njuguna",
        "slug": "humphrey-kimani-njuguna"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I am rising in place of the Chairman, Hon. Asman Kamama and on behalf of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. The Committee has had a chance to thoroughly interrogate this Refugees Bill. Indeed, we have had a chance to even travel to some of these refugee camps like Dadaab and even to interrogate various stakeholders in this important matter of refugees. To the extent that the principal objective of the Bill is to provide for the recognition and protection of refugees in this country and to align it with international conventions and treaties, the Committee supports this Bill. The Committee is alive to the fact that, perhaps, Kenya is one of the countries in the world that stands out as having hosted refugees for a very long period. We are saying for over 25 years. Perhaps, there is something to learn from this vast experience that this country has gone through on the issues of refugees. Hon. Members, this country hosts close to 1,000,000 refugees. When we are hosting close to 1,000,000 refugees, this has serious social, political and economic considerations. The Bill we are coming up with should stand out as a best practice where other countries can learn from because we are talking from experience. The issue of refugees in this country requires serious interrogation so that we do not just come up with a law that conflicts with various social, political and economic interests of the people of this country. It is towards that end that I would want to make comments on behalf of the Committee without the risk of repeating myself. I realise that Hon. Aghostinho Neto has spoken about the various procedural issues in the Bill. Basically, I would like to make a few observations from the Committee’s perspective. With regard to the issue that Hon. Agostinho Neto alluded to of the trust fund, we must accept that refugees are a temporary phenomenon. When this phenomenon goes on for over 25 years the way it has happened in this country, it ceases being temporary. Perhaps, that is why we need to interrogate this. We feel that by the new Bill trying to set up a trust fund, it is making the issue of refugees a permanent feature in the country. It means they will cease being refugees. Where is the trust fund going to get resources? Who is going to fund it? Who is going to manage it and for what purpose? This is a cardinal question that we have to interrogate. It is like refugees are visitors who are seeking temporary refuge. So, when we start creating a trust fund for them, then it is an issue that requires serious interrogation. The Committee will be moving amendments to the Bill because we are opposed to the creation of a trust fund."
}