Case Metadata

COURT RESTRAINS GOVERNMENT FROM BARRING REGISTRATION OF REFUGEES IN URBAN CENTRES

Reported by Emma Kinya Mwobobia

Issue

1. Whether a conservatory order could have been granted where the Government of Kenya had issued a press release stopping the reception, registration and close down of all registration centers in urban areas with immediate effect and that instead all asylum seekers and refugees would be registered and hosted in refugee camps.

Constitutional Law-petition – Conservatory orders – petition seeking conservatory orders - application to restrain the Government of Kenya from stopping the reception, registration and shut down of all registration centers in the urban areas with immediate effect - where the Government had ordered all asylum seekers and refugees to be registered and hosted in the designate refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab – whether a conservatory order could be issued under the circumstances.

International Law-application of international law - protection of refugees – international obligation of the Kenyan government with respect to protection of refugees – where refugees qualify as vulnerable persons under the Constitution – whether the application had merit.

Held:

1. In view of the international obligations Kenya has with respect to refugees and the fact that under our Constitution refugees are vulnerable persons, the petitioner has an arguable case before court.

2. In order to secure a hearing of the grievances, a conservatory order prohibiting any state officer from implementing the decision evidenced through the press release was granted pending further orders of the court.

Application granted.

MAHAKAMA YAZUIA SERIKALI DHIDI YA KUZUIA USAJILI WA WAKIMBIZI KATIKA VYUO VYA MIJI

Imeripotiwa na Emma Kinya Mwobobia

Suala

1. Kujua kama amri hifadhi ingetolewa pale ambapo Sheria ya Kenya ilikuwa imetoa tangazo kwa vyombo vya habari ikisitisha mapokezi, usajili na kufungwa kwa vituo vyote vya usajili katika maeneo ya mijini mara moja na kwamba badala yake watafutaji hifadhi na wakimbizi wangesajiliwa na kuhifadhiwa katika kambi.

Uamuzi:

1. Kwa mujibu wa majukumu ya kimataifa ambayo Kenya inayo na wakimbizi na hoja kwamba katika Katiba yetu wakimbizi ni watu wanyonge, mlalamishi anayo kesi ya kusikizwa mbele ya mahakama.

2. Ili kusikizwa kwa manung’uniko, amri ya uhifadhi ikizuia ofisa yeyote dhidi ya kutekeleza uamuzi ulioonekana katika tangazo kwa wanahabari iliweza kutolewa wakisubiri amri za ziada kutoka mahakamani.

Ombi limekubaliwa.