Kenya Begins UNHCR De-registration Process
The authorities have initiated another phase of screening to remove Kenyan individuals from the UNHCR records, following a prolonged period of distress that resulted in their living with an ongoing sense of unpredictability.
More than 40,000 Kenyan individuals, mostly teenagers, who were residing under the care of the United Nations refugee agency, faced challenges in obtaining official citizenship documentation from Kenya, leading to legal complications.
The Interior Ministry recently released a memorandum to the Security and Intelligence Committee of the sub-county. This memorandum bestows upon them the power to assess and suggest individuals for registration as Kenyan citizens, specifically those who had previously registered as refugees.
The message also included instructions for the authorities to adhere to while conducting the evaluation process.
The individuals who are impacted should be formally introduced by the local chief through written communication, including a photograph of the applicant. Additionally, they need to be physically present, accompanied by their parents or guardians.
“Where the affected person’s parents or siblings are deceased, the chief will confirm in writing the blood guardian to support the identity of the affected person and shall be required to commit himself on the application forms.”
As per the circular, individuals who have been impacted need to provide valid documentary proof of their age and also state their refugee status number, which they obtained while staying in the refugee camp.
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Haki Na Sheria, an NGO that focuses on championing the rights of individuals registered in both the Garissa Township Deputy County Commissioner’s office and the National Registration Bureau, held a meeting with Chiefs and their assistants from within the Garissa township. The purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on the upcoming initiatives set to begin.
Speaking to reporters at the Jamhuri Recreation Center in Garissa, DCC Solomon Chesut cautioned against individuals exploiting those affected who might lack proper information about the vetting procedure. He emphasized that stringent measures would be enacted against any person discovered seeking bribes, emphasizing that the vetting process is devoid of any charges.
Solomon Chesut mentioned that they are currently awaiting instructions regarding the precise commencement of the procedure. He noted that within the upcoming one to two weeks, the procedure will initiate officially, and specific timeframes have also been established.
In January 2022, the government effectively distributed Identity cards to more than 12000 people. This accomplishment followed a widely covered screening process that occurred in late 2019, whereas an earlier attempt at screening in 2016 was unsuccessful.
Nonetheless, some people underwent the evaluation process in 2019 but have not yet obtained their citizenship paperwork. The DCC attributes this delay to discrepancies in the way their initial documents were submitted.
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“Those who applied we are assuring them that they should not worry because there were some anomalies and we are correcting them, the sub-county security and Intelligence committee are sitting down to make corrections where possible and if individuals are required, they will be called,” he said.
Khasida Abdullahi, the Program Officer of the Haki Na Sherira Initiative, praised governments for addressing the issue of double registration, emphasizing that this particular group of individuals has endured prolonged suffering without adequate solutions.
“We appreciate the government for bringing this vetting, we understand these people have suffered so much simply because they have registered themselves in the UNHCR, we hope this exercise will be able to de-register all remaining Kenyans once and for all,” she said.
She mentioned their anticipation of a government initiative enabling individuals listed in the UN’s Refugee Agency database to voluntarily remove their registration without undergoing any formal procedure.
“We are calling out to all those whose fingerprints are in the UNHCR database to take advantage of the exercise and come out to de-register themselves,” added the official.
“Imagine someone who cannot even use Mpesa, travel or pursue higher learning just because of a lack of Identity card, as Haki Na sheria we are committed to working with all partners to ensure these people live a dignified life,” she told journalists.
Kenya Begins UNHCR De-registration Process
