Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior & National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday, March 10, 2025, engaged envoys and financial partners on the refugee situation in Kenya.

Murkomen, through his official X account, revealed that he had held a meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of financial institutions to address the issue.

He says he had discussed Kenya’s transformative Shirika Plan, which seeks to integrate refugees into the daily economic life of the country.

Murkomen further argues that the plan will be beneficial, not only to refugees, but also to the host communities and the country at large.

“Held a meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of financial institutions on the refugee situation in Kenya. The envoys and other partners lauded our transformative Shirika Plan, which seeks to integrate refugees in the daily economic life of the country, a move which will be beneficial, not only to refugees, but also the host communities and the country at large,” Murkomen stated.

Rolling out Shirika Plan

Murkomen went ahead to reveal the strategy that is being incorporated for the plan to succeed, which includes public participation and fine-tuning of the legal and regulatory framework.

For the Shirika plan to succeed, Murkomen also says that partners’ support in the innovative strategy and working closely with the host counties will play a bigger role.

“Public participation and fine-tuning of the legal and regulatory framework, which are crucial for the success of the Shirika Plan, are underway. Partners’ support in the innovative strategy and working closely with the host counties also hold the key to a successful rollout,” he wrote on X.

Held a meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of financial institutions on the refugee situation in Kenya.

The envoys and other partners lauded our transformative Shirika Plan which seeks to integrate refugees in the daily economic life of the country, a move… pic.twitter.com/ppSv4K8tWM

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) March 10, 2025

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires and Chair of the Refugee Donor Group Marc D. Dillard, the UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Stephen Jackson, and UNHCR Country Representative Caroline Van Buren are some of the people that attended Murkomen’s meeting.

Murkomen asks for financial aid

The meeting comes barely a week after Murkomen asked developed countries to contribute and help Kenya provide essential services to hundreds of refugees sheltered in camps.

In a statement on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, CS Murkomen confirmed that the recent freeze and budget cuts had impacted Kenya’s ability to host refugees and asylum seekers.

The CS noted that the World Food Program (WFP) could only offer 40 per cent of the basic minimum ration, compelling the refugees to stage protests.

“Following recent aid freezes and budget cuts for humanitarian assistance programs by developed countries, the impact on our country’s ability to host refugees and asylum seekers, which number over 800,000 people, has been sudden and severe.

“Just yesterday, refugees in Kakuma protested over the reduction in food portions provided by the World Food Program (WFP) which is now only able to offer 40 per cent of the basic minimum ration,” Murkomen stated.

His sentiments came hours after refugees staged protests demanding urgent action over severe food and water shortages.

The demonstrations followed recent reductions in humanitarian aid, largely due to funding cuts from the United States administration led by Donald Trump, a key donor to refugee programs in Kenya.

According to residents, conditions in the camp have deteriorated significantly, with many struggling to access necessities.