Kenya has called on the international community to step up support for refugees and host communities, citing rising humanitarian challenges amid dwindling funding. Speaking at a meeting with the Refugee Donor Group, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen highlighted Kenya’s efforts to integrate refugees socially and economically, while emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable financing. The session brought together representatives from UN agencies, embassies, the World Bank, and other key partners to review progress on the country’s Shirika Plan, which seeks to transition refugee camps into integrated settlements.
Kenya has historically been a haven for refugees from the Great Lakes, Horn of Africa, and other conflict zones, providing access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods. Recent policy milestones include the Refugee Act No. 10 of 2021, the 2024 Refugee (General) Regulations, and the integration of refugees into Kenya’s National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). Refugees can now access social security, health insurance, and financial services, and their qualifications are recognized through assessments by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). However, Kenya now hosts 836,907 refugees as of February 2025, with essential services strained. In Kakuma, food rations have dropped from 65% in 2023 to 40% in 2025, and could fall further to 20% without additional funding, raising concerns over malnutrition and insecurity.
Hon. Murkomen stressed that Kenya cannot shoulder this burden alone and urged predictable financial commitments from donors, international financial institutions, and the private sector. Plans to create a government-owned refugee database and elevate Dadaab and Kakuma-Kalobeyei into municipalities aim to improve service delivery, security, and self-reliance. With collective action, we can ensure that refugees live in dignity and contribute to economic growth, he said, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to refugee protection in line with the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees.