Exiled Somali journalists living in Nairobi have called on the Kenyan government and the United Nations for special consideration as the government cracks down on illegal immigration, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported Monday (January 7th).

Kenya recently ordered all refugees in the country to leave urban areas for the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, prompting many Somali refugees to return to Somalia. Journalists said they cannot return, however, as they left Somalia because of the harsh security conditions in the country for media workers. In 2012, 18 journalists were killed in Somalia, the deadliest year on record for Somali journalists.

At the meeting in Nairobi, which was organised by the National Union of Somali Journalists and the Centre for Peace and Journalism, journalists said they have also been experiencing difficulties during government operations against Somalis illegally living in Kenya.

Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Ali Noor pledged to address issues raised by journalists. He told them to contact the Somali embassy if they face security problems.