Mudavadi urges donors to buy relief food from local farmers

The government has urged the international community, donor groups and development partners to purchase relief food for refugees from local farmers.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the need for integration is important in supporting host communities.

Mudavadi regretted that the Kenyan farmers have been neglected in the efforts to support refugees, perpetually struggling to sell their produce.

"One of the biggest debates we have had in Kenya for quite some time is why the Kenyan farmer is neglected when supporting the refugees. We sometimes grapple with the price of maize, wheat and what it takes," he said during a forum to mark World Refugee Day at a Nairobi hotel.

The Prime CS said one of the pleas the government has always made is that within the package of providing relief food for either refugees or needy groups, the international community and donors should also embrace and commit to higher purchases from the local farmers.

"It is sometimes tragic when we see that the farmer in Kenya is struggling to sell their maize but we are steadily importing all the grain to feed those in refugee camps. So the support goes to another farmer but it does not come to the host farmer," he said.

He added: "So within the framework of your reorganisation, I pitch for the Kenyan farmer so that when you are supplying relief food, please think of how you can increase the off-take from the Kenyan farmer," he added.

Currently, Kenya is the 13th largest refugee-hosting nation in the world, and fifth in Africa.

Mudavadi noted that some 612,413 registered refugees and asylum seekers are hosted in Kenya, the majority of which (84 per cent) live in the camps and the rest in urban areas.

Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the top three sources of Kenya's refugee population with 56 per cent, 30 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

There are also 94,417 refugees in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret among others.

Mudavadi said Kenya is managing refugees through an encampment policy in Kakuma and Dadaab camps. He however regretted that the care and maintenance approach has not supported effective leverage of the social-economic potential of the refugees.

"The administration is fully aware of the need to give full focus and attention to sustainable refugee management. Soon, the regulations to operationalize the Refugee Act 2021 will be tabled in parliament for necessary approval and enactment," he said.

He affirmed that the government is keen to create an enabling environment that supports the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and the collective efforts to build the resilience of host communities.

Last year, the Prime Cabinet Secretary said the government re-gazetted the Ifo2 and Kambios camps and registration of the Somali community has started.

Similarly, he announced that Kenya has reopened its border with Somalia and established three border points to serve, not only as entry points, business, trade and tourism interests, but also the genuine asylum seekers.

"It is important to recognise the global shift in refugee management. Host countries are increasingly turning into settlements for refugees. This approach has two aims; to reduce reliance on humanitarian help from host governments and other humanitarian agencies, and to make refugees self-reliant and important players in the growth of host countries' economy," he said.

Mudavadi said Kenya cannot be an exception to this trend, even as he reiterated the government's commitment to transform refugee camps into integrated settlements.

"By promoting the socio-economic inclusion of refugees, we are collectively preparing them for the eventual voluntary repatriation to their home countries," he said.

To anchor this shift, the government developed a Marshal Plan dubbed "Shirika Plan" last year to provide a relevant policy and implementation roadmap.

Mudavadi said the plan will ensure host communities in Turkana and Garissa benefit from additional development support.

It will also promote peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities and save host centres from turning into ghost towns when refugees eventually leave.

He cited Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-economic Development Plan in Turkana and the Garissa Integrated Socio-economic Development Plan as examples of the social-economic inclusion of refugees.

Mudavadi urged the international community and private sector to increase financial and technical support to promote the socio-economic inclusion of refugees.

"The policy commitments the government is making will only yield desired results with your enhanced support. Building the necessary self-reliance and resilience for refugees and host communities obliges us to dedicate more financial and material investments that the government, alone, cannot meet," he said.

As a conducive environment for refugees is created in Kenya country, he said other viable solutions should also be explored.

Mudavadi emphasized on ensuring peace and stability in refugees' countries of origin as integral to a realistic quest for refugees' settlement.

Jngetich@standardmedia.co.ke