Bartamaha (Nairobi):- An estimated 5,000 refugees troop into the country every month, according to the United Nations.
Most of them find their way through the porous Kenya-Somalia border (4,000) to cap the number of foreigners seeking asylum in Kenya at 400,000.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Thursday said that a contingency plan had already been put in place in case the situation in Somalia worsened.
Ethiopia, Djibouti and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the other countries whose nationals have continued to flock in their droves into Kenya.
UNHRC country representative Liz Ahua on Thursday said it was the responsibility of Kenya to protect the refugees as demanded by international law.
Presented patrol vehicles
“It is, however, hoped that the conflict in the neighbouring states does not escalate,†said Ms Ahua as she presented 10 border patrol vehicles to the government.
They will be handed over to the police to increase their efficiency in curbing crime and patrolling the country’s border points.
Receiving the vehicles at the Directorate of Refugees, Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ pledged government protection and security both for the refugees and Kenyan citizens.
“We do not celebrate the idea that people run into our country, but it is our responsibility as well as a burden to ensure that refugee management is carried out well,†he said.
Mr Kajwang’ said the country’s security agencies were on high alert to ensure that insurgents from war-torn Somalia did not take advantage of the refugee crisis to wreak havoc in the region.
Registration of persons officers were also being rotated to ensure that they were not being compromised in issuing the ID cards.
“We are vigilant not to register any outsiders.â€
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Source:- Daily Nation
