5 Feb 2008


I left Nairobi on 15th January 2008 due to on going fight in Dandora estate in Nairobi where an outlawed Mungiki gang butchered Kenyans and police officers shot tribes believed to support the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party. I entered Tanzania through Namanga border. Since then, the kind of receiption we received from Tanzanian authorities leaves a lot to be desired because they are taking us in circles.

I joined other members of my family to seek refuge in Arusha because we wanted assistance from the UNHCR. We were visited by immigration officials on two occassions and advised to go to Morogoro where there is a refuge camp. We left Arusha on 21st January 2008 by bus and on reaching coast province, we were detained at Chalinze police station for no reason, for almost four and a half hours. The names and details were compiled and travelling documents confisticaed. We left Chalinze at 8 p.m. under tight security escort to central police station to Dar-es-Salaam. On reaching the Central police station, we were made to understand that the officer who had our travelling documents had already gone to the house with our documents.

It was horrible at Central police station because we had infants, children and elderly people who had eaten nothing since 8 a.m till 1 a.m. the following day. The documents were returned to us on 27th January 2008 and we were again advised to start the process of seeking the refugee status from the point of entry because they were aware of our situation and they had already set up camp in Arusha. We travelled on 28th January 2008 and went to Immigration offices on 29th Jan. 2008 at 2 p.m. We were given assurance that they were looking into the matter and 2nd February 2008 they visited us at the hotel we had booked and advised us that they can only take us to Kigoma refugee camp for 5 years when we can get refugee status. Where is Justice?!

        - Jonathan