Severe warning was passed on Kenya’s decision to close the Dadaab refugee complex as it was assumed to worsen insecurity in the country. It was reported that sending tens of thousands of desperate and destitute people back could force many into the hands of the Al-Shabaab recruiters they fled, exacerbating Kenya’s security problems.
The government has cited security concerns as a key factor behind its May 6 declaration that it will require refugees to leave the country.Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said on Wednesday the planned action would focus on the Dadaab complex, which the UN says is home to 328,000 Somali refugees.
While acknowledging that Kenya faces threats of further attacks linked to the Somalia conflict, the group noted that the government had failed to produce “tangible evidence” of Dadaab residents’ involvement in past attacks.“Most individuals implicated in or prosecuted for attacks have been Kenyans, raising important questions about home-grown radicalization,” she said.
“Scapegoating refugees is easier than implementing reforms. Kenya needs to address its corruption, weak governance and unaccountable security services,” Ms Lefkow added. “But it won’t help protect Kenyans from the real threats they face.”
The United Nations and the United States have both urged Kenya to reconsider its decision to oust refugees. Such a move would be in violation of Kenya’s international obligations, the UN and US have said.