Kenya does not have an exact count of refugees within its borders, a fact highlighted during a high-level forum on refugee issues held by the National Assembly’s Regional Development Committee in Mombasa.
The Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, John Burugu, shared that the refugee data Kenya relies on is managed solely by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is stored in Hungary.
“We are supposed to be the custodians of this database, but currently we operate only as data processors for a third-party organization,” Burugu said, promising that Kenya is working with partners to create an accurate, local database.
Burugu also raised concerns about the accuracy of the UNHCR’s refugee data, saying, “We cannot fully confirm that the numbers we receive represent the actual refugee population in Kenya.”
The forum, themed “Strategic Approaches to Balancing Social Cohesion and Environmental Sustainability in Refugee Inclusion in Kenya,” was chaired by Peter Lochakapong, MP Sigor, who shared findings from a recent fact-finding mission to Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.
The mission assessed refugee conditions and gathered input from local stakeholders and host communities, with plans to present a report to the National Assembly.
“During our visits, we engaged both refugees and host communities. The report we’re preparing will be crucial in shaping future refugee policies,” said Lochakapong, who also voiced concerns over the lack of environmental, social, and political impact assessments in Kenya’s refugee programs, despite the country hosting refugees for more than 30 years.
Key issues raised by host communities included land disputes, environmental degradation, insecurity, limited public participation in integration efforts, and inadequate funding for the Department for Refugee Services.
Lochakapong noted that competition for resources and dissatisfaction with the Refugee Act 2021 were also growing concerns.
Other committee members supported calls for properly implementing the Refugee Act 2021. Voi MP Khamis Chome emphasized the need for a clear, written policy on refugee management, which would define roles for all involved parties, including host communities.
“We need a policy that outlines everyone’s roles and allows host communities to have a voice,” Chome said.
Ganze MP Kazungu Tungule) raised concerns about focusing on refugee rights while overlooking host communities.
“Are we doing enough for host communities? Do we have Kenyan refugees abroad receiving the same support we offer here?” he questioned, emphasizing the need for fairness to avoid potential tensions.
Garissa Governor Nathif Adam called for a comprehensive report to guide a national refugee policy, noting that his county has hosted refugees on community land for over 32 years without compensation. He highlighted the additional challenges host communities face, such as environmental degradation and strain on resources, especially the Merti Aquifer shared by Kenya and Somalia.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Barrow expressed frustration with the lack of international support for host communities, noting that the heavy presence of refugees has further stretched resources.
He pointed to the deteriorating Garissa-Dadaab road as one example of how refugee-related activities impact local infrastructure.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, called for coordinated efforts to address security issues in refugee areas, noting that managing refugee needs requires a balanced approach that includes humanitarian and security considerations.
