The United Nations has demanded that Kenya reviews its decision of closing refugee camps.
Secretary general Ban Ki Moon, while dismissing reasons for the closure, said human rights and the country's international obligation overrules the same.
"We understand the situation that Kenya is in. Any nation will face challenges but we need to see the humanitarian aspect of this," he said.
Deputy president William Ruto had said the camps are a threat to the national security and were used as a conduit of contraband goods.
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But Ban said he "was alive" to the fact that every country has a duty to provide security for its people.
He said Kenya should consider the plight of the refugees and the environment they were returning to.
The secretary general
said the
UN can help Kenya to follow up and get funding to meet the refugee obligation from nations that pledged to do so.
"The United Nations has shared the concerns Kenya is facing with the bulging refugee camps.
Safe voluntary return to a peaceful Somalia would be the best option as Kenya explored other ways," he said.
Ban said the
UN will engage nations that pledged to support the repatriation within the context of a tripartite agreement signed by Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR.
He asked Kenya to ensure all parties were consulted before the process of sending the refugees home commences.
On Monday, Ruto said
Kenya's move to close the Dadaab refugee camp .
He said the country was ready to channel finances towards resettling the refugees back to Somalia.
Ruto told the the Summit, attended by Ban ki-Moon and other world leaders, that the camp had become a burden to Kenya.
The DP further asked the UN to expand the mandate of Amisom in fighting terrorism by providing adequate resources.
"We should ensure that the fight against terrorism does not slow down. We should give adequate resources to Amisom to help stabilize Somalia," he said.
Ruto was
accompanied
by
Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery, Foreign Affairs PS Monica Juma, Kenya's ambassador to Turkey Kiema Kilonzo among other delegates.