By our reporter
Fafi Member of Parliament Salah Yakub has threatened legal action against any move by the Kenyan government to host European Union transit centres for rejected asylum seekers, following reports that Kenya is among several African countries being considered for the facilities.
Yakub criticised the reported proposal, arguing that Kenya should not accept additional migrant-related responsibilities while it continues to host hundreds of thousands of refugees at the Dadaab refugee complex in Garissa County.
“The EU approves the immigrants deportation rule and will create holding camps in neighbouring countries. Guess? Kenya is one of the countries in talks for accepting those camps,” Yakub said. “Like the Laikipia Ebola case, we will go to court to stop any such move by this government.”
The lawmaker added: “No dumping of immigrants in the NEP from the EU! WE ARE WATCHING!!!!”
Yakub’s remarks followed reports by Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws that Kenya has emerged as the leading candidate among a shortlist of African countries being considered by several European governments as locations for so-called “return hubs.”
According to the report, the Netherlands is working with Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece to explore the establishment of temporary facilities in third countries where migrants whose asylum claims have been definitively rejected would be held while arrangements are made for their return to their countries of origin.
The proposal forms part of wider efforts under the European Union Migration Pact, which came into force earlier this month, to tighten migration management and accelerate the return of people staying illegally in EU member states.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved new rules aimed at simplifying and speeding up return procedures for third-country nationals who are in the bloc illegally. The legislation requires individuals subject to return decisions to cooperate with authorities and allows detention, subject to judicial or administrative oversight, for up to 24 months in certain circumstances.
The rules also permit alternatives to detention, including regular reporting requirements, residence restrictions, financial guarantees and electronic monitoring. EU lawmakers said the measures must comply with international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution.
RTL Nieuws reported that Kenya was viewed favourably by European officials because of its relative political stability and stronger economy compared with some other countries under consideration. Rwanda and Benin were also named as possible locations.
It remains unclear whether the Kenyan government has entered formal negotiations or reached any agreement with European governments regarding the proposed centres. Kenyan authorities had not publicly commented on the reports at the time of publication.
Yakub argued that Kenya already bears a significant refugee burden, pointing to the more than 800,000 refugees hosted in the Dadaab camps. He claimed international donor support had declined while the country continued to shoulder humanitarian responsibilities, although those claims have not been independently verified.
The debate comes as European governments seek new ways to implement stricter migration policies while several African countries weigh the diplomatic, legal and humanitarian implications of hosting migrant processing or return facilities on behalf of the European Union.
