The Standard | Online Edition :: Kenya to protect rights of refugees, says police chief

Kenya to protect rights of refugees, says police chief


Updated 2 hr(s) 54 min(s) ago
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Refugees Day

BY ADOW JUBAT

AND BONIFACE ONGERI


The Kenyan Government is committed to safeguarding the rights of all, including refugees according to the country’s North Eastern Provincial Police Officer (PPO) Aggrey Adoli.

The newly posted PPO said the new Constitution curtails all forms of discrimination by any Government agencies against refugees or citizens.

"The era of hurling immigrants or refugees into police custody and holding them in cells is long gone. Refugees must be handled in dignified manner as the law takes its due course," he said.

Speaking at a workshop organised by UNHCR at a hotel in Garissa, Kenya’s North Eastern town, the police chief said on Thursday security agencies and other government departments dealing with refuges must change with new laws.

The workshop brought together top police officers stationed at border points and refugee camps.

And speaking at the same function Principal Magistrate John Onyiego said the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs plans to open the fourth court of law in the province at Dadaab.　

Weekly sitting

The magistrate said the weekly sitting by a magistrate from Garissa court is not enough to handle cases at the refugee camps because there is an upsurge of crime involving assault, theft and break-ins that require a full sitting at Dadaab, a remote Kenyan town where the refugee camp is situated.

"Plans are under way to open the fourth law court after the ones in Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties to handle the refugee community. That shows the Government commitment to the welfare of its refugee communities," he said.

The police boss reminded his officers that under the new Constitution, refugees enjoy the right to seek asylum and other rights provided under the Bill of Rights.