Kenya has reiterated its long-standing commitment to the protection and inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers, reaffirming its role as a regional leader in humanitarian response. This pledge was made during a high-level meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, and Mr. Raouf Mazou, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner for Operations.
Speaking after the meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday evening, CS Murkomen emphasized Kenya’s 56-year partnership with UNHCR in supporting displaced populations, describing it as a model of solidarity and shared responsibility.
“Kenya’s unwavering dedication to refugee protection remains a pillar of our regional stability and humanitarian policy. We remain committed to ensuring that refugees live with dignity and that host communities also benefit from the presence of these populations,” Murkomen said.
Central to the discussions was the newly launched Shirika Plan, a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at promoting the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers. The plan is designed to strengthen self-reliance and resilience among refugees while delivering measurable benefits to local host communities.
“The Shirika Plan is not just a policy framework—it is a transformative approach that recognizes refugees as contributors to society, not just recipients of aid,” Murkomen added.
The Interior CS also used the opportunity to urge the UNHCR to intensify its advocacy for long-term solutions to displacement. He underscored the need to tackle the root causes of forced migration, including conflict, political instability, and the growing impact of climate change.
“While we address immediate humanitarian needs, we must also engage with the broader context. Advocacy for peace, cessation of violence, and climate resilience is critical to ending displacement before it begins,” he noted.
Mr. Mazou, in turn, commended Kenya for its leadership and continued cooperation, noting the country’s unique role in hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring countries such as Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of mutual commitment between the Government of Kenya and UNHCR to strengthen collaboration, enhance resource mobilization, and pursue durable solutions that uphold the rights and dignity of all displaced people.
Kenya currently hosts over half a million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily located in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, as well as in urban centers. The government has repeatedly emphasized the importance of a development-oriented approach to refugee management in alignment with the Global Compact on Refugees.
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