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| Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante |
The Government has been urged to exercise tolerance and caution when dealing with refugees as it scales up measures to boost security in the country.
Addressing participants at Emmaus Centre in Nairobi, the Bishop Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Seafarers Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante called on the Government not to punish refugees in their quest to curb terrorism as majority of them are people with real needs and who should be treated with justice and fairness.
Bishop Pante, who is also the Bishop of Maralal, however, admitted that insecurity in the country has become a major concern as terrorists are taking advantage of the generosity of Kenyans to host refugees. He added that terrorists could be punishing Kenyans for their commitment to curb insecurity in the neighbouring countries.
His reaction followed the recent stern statement made by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Internal Security and Coordination of National Government, Mr. Joseph Ole Lenku, calling on refugees living in the Dadaab Refugee Camp to shape up or be sent back to Somalia. Mr. Ole Lenku warned that if refugees continue to pose a threat to national security, the Kenyan Government will have to take over and fast track their repatriation process.
Bishop Pante revealed that during the five day workshop, participants will analyse the refugee situation in the country and come up with the way forward on how to help the increasing number of refugees in the country.
The workshop has brought together 50 pastoral animators and agents drawn from the dioceses experiencing influx of refugees across the country.
SOURCE: Waumini Communications - KCCB