Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that Kenya is beginning to bear the brunt of the crisis in South Sudan, with at least 20 refugees crossing the border daily.
South Sudan, Africa’s youngest nation, is grappling with a deteriorating situation following renewed clashes in some regions, with First Vice President Riek Machar reportedly under house arrest.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, Mudavadi cautioned that Kenya is finding itself in dire need due to the anticipated influx of refugees.
As both the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Garissa and Turkana counties struggle under immense pressure, he stressed the urgency of international support.
“We have had refugees who have stayed in these camps for as many as 39 years. Some were born there, while others do not know where their parents emigrated from,” Mudavadi told senators.
“We have already begun seeing an inflow of 20 refugees per day.”
As of February 2025, Dadaab—Kenya’s largest refugee camp—was home to 423,674 refugees and asylum seekers, while Kakuma housed 302,372, according to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR).
Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya cannot sustain these camps without increased foreign aid and humanitarian assistance.
“We do not want a program fully funded by the Kenyan government. We can only manage this situation within the framework of international obligations. Institutions like UNHCR and the UN World Food Program (WFP) must step up to ensure Kenya’s resources are not overstretched,” he said.
He also highlighted Kenya’s efforts to transition refugee camps into integrated settlements under the ‘Shirika Plan,’ which aims to empower refugees economically.
“We want to shift from a system where refugees only depend on Kenya’s resources. They must also be given opportunities to contribute to the country’s economic growth,” Mudavadi stated.
His remarks come amid worsening conditions in Kenya’s refugee camps due to funding shortages.
Last month, refugees in Kakuma clashed with police after
food supplies were slashed following a U.S. aid freeze, which cut WFP’s budget
by nearly half.
UNHCR has warned of an “unprecedented crisis,” citing a projected 40 percent funding shortfall this year.
