10Oct By Advocate Joan LangatOctober 14, 20260Legal Aid High Court Quashes Directive Requiring Refugees and Asylum Seekers to Surrender National Passports In a powerful affirmation of human dignity and the rule of law, Refugee Legal Networks (RLN) secured a significant legal victory for refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya at the Milimani High Court, under Justice Gregory Mutai, who delivered a landmark judgment protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya.In its judgment delivered on 28th September 2026, the High Court declared that the notices issued by the Department of Refugee Services (DRS) on 30th September and 24th October 2024 were unlawful, having been issued without legal authority.This ruling is not just a legal victory but a profound win for humanity, safeguarding refugees and asylum seekers from arbitrary state action. The Court’s Decisive Ruling The Court ordered the return of passports collected or surrendered under the impugned notices. The Department of Refugee Services was directed to return the passports within 30 days of the judgment and to file an affidavit of compliance within 45 days, detailing the passports received, those returned and the reasons and legal authority for retaining any that remain unreturned.The Court also affirmed that public authorities must address legitimate concerns through lawful procedures and within the limits of their statutory powers. Click to download the Judgement on the passport case A Win for Humanity RLN’s work is a shining example of the power of grassroots legal advocacy, standing between a vulnerable population and a state directive that threatened to upend their lives.The proceedings also benefited from the participation of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Katiba Institute and The Legal Caravan as interested parties, with Kituo Cha Sheria admitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court). Their participation contributed to the broader consideration of the legal and human rights implications of the contested directive. Author Advocate Joan Langat View all posts 1 Review ( 5 out of 5 ) Rebecca Milongo 5 October 15, 2026 Where we're living they're showing us madharau so much Write a Review Submit Review