Kenya: Update to Response to Information Request KEN23369.E of 22 March 1996 on the refugee determination process and on the meaning and rights accorded to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognised refugee
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KEN24248.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kenya: Update to Response to Information Request KEN23369.E of 22 March 1996 on the refugee determination process and on the meaning and rights accorded to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognised refugee, 1 May 1996, KEN24248.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab315f.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information on the Kenyan refugee determination process and asylum procedures, which is current to the end of 1994, was provided by letter by the Ottawa office of the United High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 2 May 1996.
The government body responsible for refugee determination in Kenya has not operated since October 1990. Until November 1992 neither the government nor the UNHCR processed any asylum seekers. Since November 1992 the UNHCR has had eligibility determination responsibilities, although the government has granted Convention refugee status in some circumstances. However, the UNHCR is not aware of the procedure, nor of the criteria used in these cases. In addition to the Convention refugee status granted by the Kenyan government, two other categories of refugees exist in the country: mandate and prima facie refugees. The latter category refers to Somali and Sudanese nationals, and until November 1993 nationals from Ethiopia. For this category no interviews are conducted by UNHCR protection officers. The mandate category refers to other nationalities interviewed by UNHCR protection officers who have their claims adjudicated according to the UNHCR Mandate.
For additional information, including a description of the rights accorded the two refugee categories, please consult the attachment.
Additional and/or corroborating information was not available to the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ottawa. 2 May 1996. Letter received by the DIRB.
Attachment
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ottawa. 2 May 1996. Letter received by the DIRB.
