Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Kenya plans to relocate Somali refugees’ back to the Horn of Africa nation now that conducive environment has been created in Somalia as a result of ongoing dual military operation.Internal Security Ministry Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia also assured Kenyans living in northern region that adequate security measures are in place to detect those who may be planning to commit crime.
"The government intends to commence modalities for the relocation of the refugees back to Somalia in liaison with the UNHCR and the international community now that safe havens have been created in Somalia following the ongoing Operation Linda Nchi, " Kimemia said in a statement received on Monday.
He also warned that the government will revoke refugee status of Somali refugees found to have links with the Al-Shabaab militant group, particularly at Dadaab refugee complex.
"I wish to warn that refugees who do not abide by the law, or collude with Al-Shabaab or any other criminal groups will be prosecuted, their refugee status revoked and will be repatriated back to Somalia," Kimemia said.
There have been a series of grenade and landmine explosions at the Dadaab refugee camp often blamed on Al-Shabaab sympathisers, some of whom hold refugee status.
Several community leaders among the 460,000 mostly Somali residents of the world’s largest refugee complex have recently left the facility in eastern Kenya, fearing for their safety after the killing of two of their colleagues.
These deaths, and threats to other refugees, came after an agreement by refugee leaders to step up vigilance with patrols in Dadaab after roadside bombings.
Police blamed the attacks on Al- Shabaab, a Somali insurgent group, now being targeted by the Kenyan military in Somalia.
Kimemia appealed to refugee leaders to assist security officers in weeding out criminals in their midst who have even attacked security officers and relief workers.
"This is ungrateful and unacceptable," Kimemia said, adding that the government will no longer tolerate refugees who are out to destabilize the country and warned refugees loitering out of camp to return to the camps or risk prosecution of repatriation.
"The heavy burden of hosting over 600,000 refugees over the last 20 years is already sagging and getting out of hand and Kenya cannot afford these increasingly criminalized refugee camps," he said.
Several aid agencies including Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) have been forced to scale down their humanitarian activities due to insecurity in the Daddaab refugee complex.
According to UNHCR, the ability of aid agencies to deliver services is being seriously curbed.
Humanitarian workers have to contend with restrictions on movement from Dadaab town to the camps, and police escorts for such movements have become essential.
Kimemia also called on refugees who illegally acquired Kenyan Identification Cards (IDs) to return them, warning those who failed to do so will be prosecuted and their refugee status revoked.
"Those fronting to be registered as voters will similarly bear rested together with those aiding them.
The government has directed the Directorate of Refugee Affairs (DRA) to strictly enforce the Refugee Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures," he said.
Kimemia said the government has improved governance structure in the refugee camps.
"In fact, a special District Commissioner will be deployed to manage all three refugee camps in the northeastern region," he said.
The East African nation has previously protested at the lack of the international community’s support in relocating the refugees back to their country because camps hosting them in northern Kenya are full to capacity.
Most refugees are however blamed for failing to adhere strictly to the set out rules and regulations governing them, including staying in the camps.
Dadaab is the world’s largest refugee settlement, home to more than 460,000 people, overwhelmingly Somalis who have fled famine and fighting in their neighboring homeland.
Aside from the humanitarian suffering and violence, Somalia remains beset by political tensions, and the UN and other international organizations have been working to help Somalis resolve their differences.
More than 955,000 Somalis live as refugees in countries neighboring Somalia - primarily in Kenya (520,000), Yemen (203,000) and Ethiopia (186,000).
A third of them fled Somalia in the course of 2011. Another 1.3 million people are internally displaced within Somalia.
Meanwhile, Kimemia also said the government has instituted measures to ensure two Kenyan officials who were abducted in a raid in Wajir are returned home safely.
"The lives of these Kenyans are precious and the Government has demanded their unconditional release. Let their families remain calm as we try to have them brought back," he said.
Gerille District Officer Mule Yesse and a Registration officer, Patrick Wainaina, are still in captivity after Al-Shabaab militants raided a police post in Gerille in a recent attack.
A driver who had been kidnapped with the two was released and walked several kilometers back home.
The militia have released photos on the Twitter website of Mule and Irungu.
In the attack, six Kenyans including three police officers were killed.
"Indeed, I wish to urge the family and friends of the two officers to remain calm as the government pursues the matter," Kimemia said.
Yesse and Wainaina were kidnapped when suspected Al-Shabaab militiamen raided an Administration Police camp in Wajir.
Mule’s family has been holding prayers in Nairobi for his release with his father, Edward Yesse, expressing confidence that his son will be released safely.