“Refugees are not criminals, they are a victim of circumstances, we should embrace them, and try to help them begin and build their lives wherever they are,” he urged.
He hopes to partner with government schools and hospitals to get the work done; already he has enrolled over 30 refugees.
In May 2016 the government disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) in measures leading to closure of two refugee camps citing terrorism threats.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho in a statement explained the country’s dilemma of giving a home to refugees and at the same time sustaining security.
READ: Kenya to shut camps over Shabaab threat, disbands refugee unit
According to Kibicho, Kenya has been a host for over 600,000 refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab camps for almost a quarter of a century.
“The government has disbanded DRA as a first step. Further the government is working on mechanism for closure of the two refugee camps within the shortest time possible,” Kibicho stated.
Unfortunately, he explained, the high population placed on Kenya a heavy burden on its economy and environment.
Of concern was also terror threats emanating from the Al Shabaab group which has hit Kenya several times and still poses a threat.
“Due to immense security challenges such as threat of Al Shabaab and other related terror groups that hosting of refugees has continued to pose to Kenya and due to the slow nature of the repatriation, the government has been forced by circumstances to reconsider the whole issue of hosting refugees and the process of repatriation,” he explained.
The issue is not only for Kenya, but global refugee crisis as countries least capable of responding to the complex needs of refugees are the ones forced to shoulder the greatest burden in caring for them.
Money may come in from more affluent donor states to assist in these humanitarian crises, but proximity is often the main driver of humanitarian obligations.
It is the local host nations which face the greatest struggles and social tensions when former regional neighbours become refugees.
In Lebanon about 1.5 million Syrians have fled over five years of civil war.
Reports indicate that the decision by some of the United Kingdom citizens to leave European Union was due to anti immigration backlash.
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