Kenya, UNHCR launch master plan to address refugee crisis

The government has launched a technical team to design a comprehensive strategy on the repatriation of refugees.

The plan is aimed at solving the country's refugee crisis.

The Intergovernmental Steering Committee on Kenya's Marshal Plan for Refugees is expected to draft viable proposals on support for the displaced persons so as to reduce over-reliance on humanitarian aid.

Immigration PS Julius Bitok said the framework will take a development-oriented approach in harnessing the refugees' inherent social-economic potential to empower them and promote their self-reliance.

"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.

He added that the plan will also guide the conversion of refugee camps to integrated settlements.

It will further expand the persons' access to support for safe repatriation as envisioned in the Global Compact on Refugees.

PS Bitok emphasised that there was urgent need to ease the pressure dealt on the host communities through locally sustainable solutions.

There has been growing concern over the increasing tension and conflict due to competition for limited resources and the dwindling resettlement space in refugee camps.

"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," Bitok said.

"It is important that there is equity in terms of assistance provided to promote peaceful co-existence," he added.

Kenya currently hosts close to 800,000 refugees of which more than 577,000 are registered, 200,000 in Dadaab and Kakuma.

Refugees Act No.10 of 2021 provides for the recognition, protection and management of refugees.

Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the Marshal plan also covers the security challenges experienced for hosting refugees saying government is addressing the vice of smuggling and human trafficking in the camps.

"There are subsequent regulations being formulated that will go with the Act in terms of how to manage refugees, but the integrated approach under the Marshal Plan will help us deal with acts of terrorism and radicalisation because we will be able to empower even the host communities so that they can identify potential troublemakers," Omollo said.

He noted that the gazettement of additional refugee camps in Dadaab and Fafi in 2022 has improved the identification and processing of refugees.