The government will transition Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps into integrated settlements in which refugees will co-exist with host communities.
In the arrangement, the refugees will benefit from government services as it kicks off the planned closure of the two camps over security concerns.
On Wednesday, an intergovernmental steering committee was launched to align the transition plan with the country’s national security priorities amongst them the Refugee Act (2021) that outlines the refugees and asylum seekers privileges, opportunities and occasions when such shall be withdrawn.
According to Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo, other key priorities of the committee that will be coordinated by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki will include heightening border security and screening to prevent an influx of more refugees and enforcement of law and order in the settlement areas.
Kenya is currently the fifth largest refugee hosting country in Africa and the 13th largest asylum country in the world hosting an excess of 800,000 of both. Majority reside in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps as over 91,000 others are hosted in other urban counties mainly Nairobi.
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