President Uhuru Kenyatta signing a Bill into law/ PDU. 

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 17 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed the Refugees Bill into law, Statehouse has announced.  

This is after the National Assembly amended the controversial sections in the document.

President Kenyatta had earlier rejected assent to the Bill and referred it back to parliament for reconsideration. 

Some of the contentious issues when the Bill was rejected include the exclusion of detention centres like prisons, police stations, immigration centres and remands that are under the law used as holding grounds for refugees and asylum seekers.

In April 2021, Kenya announced that it is preparing to shut down two camps hosting over 430,000 refugees by June 2022, following a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi. 

“Kenya and the UNHCR agree that refugee camps are not a long-term solution to forced displacement and are working to find alternative solutions under the Global Compact on Refugees,” a joint statement read.

President Kenyatta also signed the Foreign Service Bill and the Law of Succession (Amendment) Bill into law. 

According to Statehouse, the new Foreign Service Act establishes the Foreign Service Academy among other key provisions aimed at enhancing Kenya’s foreign relations.

“The Law of Succession (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, amended the Law of Succession Act so as to streamline administration of succession matters in the country,” Statehouse said in a statement. 

Present during the signing ceremony were Head of Public Service Dr. Joseph Kinyua, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, and Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Sialai. Others were Solicitor General Ken Ogeto and State House Deputy Chief of Staff Njee Muturi.