Marshall Plan: Gov’t Seeks Funding From International Partners To Transition Refugees In Kakuma and Dadaab

NAIROBI,Kenya, Mar, 21 – During the National Development Implementation Coordination and Communication Committee (NDICC) meeting Monday with Development Partners on the Government’s priority programs and other matters of mutual interest Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. fred Matiang’i said that the government requires funding to transition 456,272 refugees living in Kakuma and Daadab centres and 87,647 refugees living in Kenya’s urban centres.

Under a ‘Marshall Plan’ Matiang’i says that the funding will be geared towards investment in Refugee Villages that will provide infrastructure in education, health, water, energy, security and environmental conservation in designated centres.

The plan also hopes to conduct a humane voluntary repatriation exercise that will encourage and facilitate refugees to return to their countries of origin.

“Under a marshall Plan funding will also facilitate naturalisation of East Africa Community (EAC) refugees who will be encouraged to apply for Kenyan citizenship and be helped to integrate,” said the CS.

in 2021, Kenya and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agreed on a repatriation roadmap for refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab camps.

The roadmap included provisions for voluntary safe return of refugees to their home nations, departures to third countries under various arrangements, and alternative stay options in Kenya for refugees from the East African Community (EAC) member states.

The plan that will be implemented by a team of Government and UNHCR officials was agreed upon during a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the visiting UN Refugee Agency’s High Commissioner Filippo Grandi who paid the Head of State a courtesy visit at State House, Nairobi.

At the meeting, also attended by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, and Cabinet Secretaries Amb Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs) and Dr Fred Matiang’i (Interior), President Kenyatta said Kenya is committed to finding a humane and sustainable solution to the refugee challenge in Kenya and the region