November 29, 2021

Kenya’s refugee law is a model for the world

topic:	Refugees and Asylum
located:	Kenya
editor:	Bob Koigi

The recent signing of the refugee bill into law in Kenya is a welcome relief for the refugee community at a time when the current global refugee situation continues to be shaped by emerging phenomena, such as civil wars, terrorism, climate change and persecutions, among other factors.

The more than 500,000 refugees who have been living in Kenya’s two largest camps, Daadab and Kakuma, can now be integrated into Kenyan society and economy by earning a decent income outside of the camps and finding employment and education, which they have been denied for decades. 

Coming at a time when the east-African nation has experienced an influx of refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Burundi, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, the legislation has spotlighted the need for governments to revise their policies and laws towards those who have fled their countries due to threats of disease, natural disasters and conflicts.

As these occurrences force exoduses, nations have leaned towards protectionist policies, such as closing their borders to vulnerable individuals seeking safe havens, thus spawning a crisis that could be transformed into an opportunity. 

For countries like Uganda that have open and friendly policies towards refugees, allowing them to work and do business in the host country, the benefits to the local economy and trade have proven that refugee contributions drive national growth.

With the global population of those who have fled their homes standing at 82.4 million people, close to 26.4 million of which are refugees, the community of nations should be reminded that reactionary policies like closing borders adversely affect everybody. There are sustainable and win-win methods of embracing refugees, which countries like Kenya are proving are possible.

Photo by Bennet Tobias

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