State does not have accurate data on refugees in Kenya

Parliament has been told that the government does not have data on the exact number of refugees in the country despite complaints that they are benefitting more than the host communities.

This was revealed during a forum organised by the National Assembly Regional Development Committee bringing together stakeholders from the Ministries of Interior and Lands, Refugee Consortium of Kenya, the World Food Programme and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

During the two days’ forum in Mombasa, the Commissioner for Refugee Affairs John Burugu disclosed that the current refugee database is managed solely by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the data stored in Hungary.

“I would like to assure Parliament that the government is working with relevant partners to develop a more accurate and localised refugee database for Kenya, we are supposed to be the custodian of this data base and are involved in processing it but we have been doing it for the UNHCR,” said Burugu.

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The forum whose theme was “Strategic approaches to balancing social cohesion and environmental sustainability in refugee inclusion in Kenya,” was chaired by Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong who is the Chairperson of the National Assembly Regional Development Committee.

 Lochakapong shared the results of a fact-finding mission to the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps over the past two weeks where the Committee assessed conditions for refugees, engaged with local stakeholders and met host communities. A report of the engagement will be tabled before the National Assembly.

“It is a matter of concern that Kenya has not conducted a comprehensive environmental, social, and political impact assessment despite hosting refugees for more than 30 years. During our visit we interacted with both refugees and host communities to gather insights, we are preparing a report that will help shape future policy on refugee matters,” said Lochakapong.

The Parliamentary Committee Chairman said host communities raised concerns including land disputes, environmental degradation, insecurity, lack of public participation in integration efforts, and the underfunding of the Department for Refugee Services.

Lochakapong said they found out that there is increasing competition for resources between refugees and host communities and dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Refugee Act 2021.

Voi MP Khamis Chome emphasized the need for a policy that clarifies the roles of all actors involved in refugee affairs, including participation of host communities.

Ganze MP Kazungu Tungule wondered why focus is on protecting the rights of refugees while neglecting the host communities and called for equal treatment to avoid creating tension.

Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo said that the government must strike a balance in meeting the socio-economic needs of refugees and host communities to ensure harmonious co-existence.

Garissa Governor Nathif Adam called for a comprehensive report to guide the creation of a national policy on refugee affairs saying that the county has hosted refugees for more than 32 years on community land without compensation.

“The host community in Garissa has faced various challenges which include environmental degradation, poaching, disease outbreaks, and the over-exploitation of the Merti Aquifer, which is shared by Kenya and Somalia,” said Adam.

 Garissa Township MP Dekow Barrow expressed frustration over what he described as the international community’s neglect of host communities saying that they can no longer sustain the refugee camps which have stretched resources.

Barrow highlighted the poor state of the Garissa-Dadaab road, which was destroyed by heavy trucks transporting goods to the refugees and asked the international agencies to consider the plight of local residents who are also suffering.

The Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo called for coordinated efforts to address the security challenges in refugee zones emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach, balancing security, humanitarian needs, and regional cooperation.