Protection

Legal protection for refugees begins when the POCs (person of concern) arrives at the borders of the asylum country, and then the concept of non-refoulement is applied, which states that no asylum-seeker should be returned to their place of origin or a third country where their lives may be at risk and that everyone has the right to seek refuge.

When the POCs are safe and are received into the country, legal protection commences from the moment we receive these POCs and register them to the nearest DRS government offices.

Access to registration to POCs is one of the first instruments of legal protection because it ensures that the POCs are under the protection of the Kenyan government, which means that they will not be returned to their home country, meanwhile, their files are being processed and issued with documentation to show that they are now legally staying in the country.

Legal protection continues through the refugee status determination phase, in which DRS employs the Kenyan Refugee Act No. 10 of 2021 and the International Refugee Law instruments to determine whether or not the asylum seeker should be given refugee status, based on the reasons for fleeing their home country. 

POCs are legally protected by being granted legal documents such as proof of registration during the registration process and recognition letter and Refugee ID cards after going through refugee status determination processes.

This procedure ensures the POCs have access to any social contracts, legal procedures, and aspects of daily life that the local community normally enjoys.

Ongoing Protection: Case Management

Protection does not end at the refugee camp's door or after being issued with the legal document. It is a continuous process of dealing with highly vulnerable people every day. Casework, is one of the most well-known forms of refugee protection, as caseworkers routinely track refugee problems and work to find efficient solutions. This can be related to a variety of protective issues such as Gender-Based Violence, Child Protection, Health Concerns, and Education.