Mr. Stephen Ng'ang'a:

Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked the top issues or complaints people would have with the direct provision system. As he will realise, every time one mentions "direct provision" it gives the connotation of handouts being given.

Of the issues that are addressed in the hostels, food would be a big issue. That is why we call for an end to direct provision. People have no right to choose what they eat. The issues around food would be many, from the way it is prepared to whether it is Halal, and overcooked food. It involves all kinds of issues.

One of the other major issues is about children having no space to live or even to do their assignments. My children do assignments on the floor. If direct provision is really there to provide, it does not meet its remit of provision because it does not even provide space for children to do their homework. It does not even provide a variety of food for the children. These are major issues.

It is a provision system. The children who leave the system after leaving certificate are not even provided with the cost of proceeding with their careers and as one can imagine, there are so many issues there.

If one visits the hostel arrangement, one would see that some live in a place where toilets are shared. Children and families share the same toilets. In 2014, that should not be allowed.

Most of these complaints are legitimate. One cannot be pushed to live in a prison-like condition and expect that there will not be complaints. There will always be complaints. The only response we get is: "This person is a complainer, he is a whiner, let us transfer them." Is that right? I do not think so.