A total of 29 Burundians were intercepted in Migori after crossing into the country through the porous border.
“The 29 individuals came into the country through the porous border and are currently being held at the Kenya Red Cross office may be awaiting relocation. When they were screened they were found to be desperate. The only issue is the fact they came in through porous routes. You know if you come in through the border as an asylum seeker, your case can be handled,” said Migori County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich
Adding: “They will probably be taken to the referral refugee camp which is KAKUMA.”
According to information on the UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) in Kenya suspended most of the services as a preventive measure to avoid Covid-19.
“RAS and UNHCR will inform you as soon as activities are resumed. Should you lose your proof of registration or have any queries, please contact our helpline: Email: helpline.kenya@unhcr.org or 1517 (Toll-free Telephone). Should you have applied for your Refugee ID card, kindly approach RAS office in your location, to check its status and collect it if ready,” reads the notice on their website.
In Kenya it is the Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) which provides and coordinates the protection and assistance to refugees. RAS is an office within the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
The Refugee Affairs Secretariat registers, processes and decides on all applications for asylum. The Refugee Affairs Secretariat also issues identification cards for asylum seekers and refugees in Kenya.
The RAS has offices in Dadaab, Eldoret: Public Works Building next to immigration, Oloo Street, Kakuma, Mombasa: Opposite St. Mary’s Academy, Bombolulu estate, Nairobi: Ambira Road and Nakuru: Farming Systems of Kenya Building, Kabarak Road, Kiamunyi.
Kenya hosts refugees mainly from the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa region. While most people fleeing from conflict in South Sudan arrive in Kakuma in northern Kenya, most Somali refugees flee to Dadaab, in Garissa County.
“Majority of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya originate from Somalia (54%), South Sudanese (24.6%), Congolese (9%); Ethiopians (5.8%). Those from Sudan, Rwanda, Eritrea, Burundi, Uganda and others make up 6.8 % of the entire population. Almost half of the refugees in Kenya (44%) reside in Dadaab, 40% in Kakuma and 16% in urban areas (mainly Nairobi), alongside 18,500 stateless persons,” reads information from UNHCR website.