Ministry moots new strategy to address refugee crisis

A technical team has been launched to design a comprehensive strategy on repatriation and integration of refugees.

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok says the plan will solve Kenya’s longstanding refugee situation and manage security in designated settlement areas.

The Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Kenya’s Marshal Plan for Refugees is expected to draft viable proposals on support for the displaced persons with a view to reducing over-reliance on humanitarian aid.

“It aims at enhancing access to effective registration, documentation, basic services such as education, healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), energy, jobs and livelihoods,” the PS said during the launch of the committee in Nairobi.

According to the PS, the plan will also guide the conversion of refugee camps to integrated settlements and expand their access to support for safe and dignified repatriation as envisioned in the Global Compact on Refugees.

There has been an increasing tension and conflict due to competition for limited resources and the dwindling resettlement space.

Host community

As a result, Bitok (pictured) underscored the urgent need to ease the pressure on host communities through local sustainable solutions that will enhance and promote resilience.

“At the heart of the Marshal Plan is the host community. We will work to ensure the host community members are the direct beneficiaries of all development programmes in refugee hosting areas. It is important that there is equity in terms of assistance provided to promote peaceful co-existence,” he said on Tuesday.

Kenya currently hosts close to 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with over 577,000 registered and over 200,000 profiled in Dadaab and Kakuma camps.

Besides the consequent financial burden, the situation continues to pose serious security challenges, which will also form an important aspect of the Marshal Plan.

According to the PS for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo, the refugee crisis has presented significant security challenges to Kenya, with intelligence reports showing instances during which this population has been used as a cover for criminal and terrorist activities.