Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said that Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps will now be upgraded to integrated communities under the second Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP2).
Speaking on Tuesday, during the launch of the World Bank funded program at State House, Kindiki said the situation in the camps has not been very good in terms of social amenities
He went on to say that the transformation to integrated settlements will allow the refugees and their host communities to live in decent and dignified environments.
“We really appreciate the input of KUSP2 to inject support to upgrade the social amenities in our refugee camps and transform them from camps to integrated settlements where host communities and refugees can live in dignified environments.
“As we improve the amenities in the camps and turn them into settlements, we will also be taking care of the host communities there so that we don’t create disparities in terms of standards and conditions of living between refugees and host community,” Kindiki said.
He noted that for the over 30 years that Kenya has hosted the refugees, it has not been an easy journey, but Kenya has proudly done well.
Kindiki said through this, Kenya remains one of the most successful refugee host countries in the world, as it currently hosts over 700,000 in the two camps.
The Interior CS thanked partner countries and organisations that have offered support over the years.
“I want to thank the UNHCR and other partners and other countries that have supported us even as we host these people for this long. It has been a difficult journey and proudly for our country, we have done a good job because it is not easy to host the size of the refugee community we have.
“At the moment 700,000 refugees are in this country in Dadaab and Kakuma and this is the spirit of burden sharing in the world as opposed to burden shifting.”
Kindiki added that with the Urban Support Program, Kenya will be able to comply with her obligations to the refugees and the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its protocols.
He went on to say that the country now meets the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, as well as the requirements of the Refugees Act, 2021, which is now operational.
Spearheaded by the government with support from the World Bank, KUSP is strategically designed to fortify urban institutions' capacities, thereby enhancing the delivery and resilience of urban infrastructure and services.
It also aims to catalyse greater private sector engagement in urban planning processes, amplifying the program's impact on sustainable urban growth.
One of the key focal points of KUSP2 is its commitment to supporting the transition of refugee camps into integrated settlements.