Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi has revealed that Kenya receives 20 refugees from South Sudan on a daily basis. 

Speaking at the Senate plenary on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Mudavadi  decried that the situation presents further challenges to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“The situation in South Sudan is getting worse, and we are beginning to see again another influx at the rate of about 20 refugees per day, so we are beginning to see certain circumstances that are giving us challenges,” he said. 

The Foreign Affairs CS also decried that the country was still facing challenges from the Al Shabaab and the conflict around the Somali side. 

He called for further enforcement of security measures across the country’s borders reiterating that Kenya was facing a serious security issue that needs to be dealt with both regionally and internally. 

 “We also still remain with challenges from the Al Shabaab and the conflict around the Somali side and we also have sporadic conflicts along the Marsabit-Ethiopian border from time to time. There is a serious security issue that has to be looked at regionally and internally by Kenya’s security forces,” the CS added. 

The CS equally affirmed the government’s stance on the compensation of Kenyan refugees in Ethiopia.

Mudavadi made it clear that the government will not compensate the refugees in Ethiopia, insisting that the state can only facilitate the return of the refugess and their reintegration into the community. 

“With regards to compensation, the government only facilitates return and reintegration into the Kenyan society for any Kenyan refugee granted asylum by any country. No compensations are paid by the government for any returning Kenyan,” Mudavadi said while responding to the question raised by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute.

He, however, issued some considerations the state will undertake regarding the situation. 

Mudavadi said the repatriation of the refugees should be undertaken for those willing in return. 

“What do we consider as the way forward? One, repatriation of the refugees should be undertaken for those who are willing to return, as it must be voluntary. Based on an informed choice and consent to return given by the refugees to avoid coercion and prosecution, and it should also be done with dignity, and we hope this process can commence as soon as possible.

“Kenya should also ensure refugee returnees are safe, devoid of discrimination, and provided with basic services and access to essential services to avoid being exposed to another cycle of displacement. We must also engage and coordinate with the UNHCR, the Kenyan government, and the Ethiopian government to facilitate the return of the refugees,” Mudavadi added.