The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has lauded Kenya’s new refugee integration strategy, the Shirika Plan, for improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.
Unveiled by the government last Friday, the plan seeks to transform refugee camps into integrated settlements, enabling over 830,000 refugees to assimilate into local communities. Under this initiative, refugee-hosting areas will be upgraded into municipalities, fostering economic growth and better access to essential services for both refugees and host populations.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised the move as a progressive step toward greater refugee inclusion, calling it a more humane alternative to traditional camps. He highlighted Kenya’s leadership in implementing policies that align with the Global Compact on Refugees and the Refugees Act of 2021.
However, the plan has faced opposition from some political groups, who claim it is a tactic by the government to grant refugees ID cards and register them as voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
For over 30 years, Kenya has hosted large refugee populations, mainly from Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC. The country is home to Dadaab and Kakuma, two of the world’s largest refugee camps, housing over 700,000 people combined.
Despite political controversy, the initiative represents a landmark shift in Kenya’s refugee policy, offering hope for long-term stability and economic inclusion.
