GENEVA, Switzerland – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for deeper collaboration between Kenya and the United Nations in addressing refugee management and emerging security threats.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025) in Geneva, Switzerland, Murkomen held a series of high-level talks with UN officials, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to both international humanitarian obligations and disaster resilience.
In a bilateral meeting with Raouf Mazou, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the CS reaffirmed Kenya’s longstanding support for over 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers hosted in the country.
“Kenya remains committed to working closely with UNHCR and other partners to support refugees and promote their integration into host communities,” Murkomen said.
A key focus of the talks was the Shirika Plan, a new multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at fostering socio-economic inclusion and resilience among displaced populations.
Murkomen said the plan is expected to not only enhance the self-reliance of refugees but also bring benefits to the Kenyan communities that host them.
He also emphasized the need to address the root causes of displacement, including climate change and conflict, and urged the UNHCR to increase advocacy for peace and stability in the region.
In a separate engagement, Murkomen met with Kamal Kishore, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
Their discussions focused on strengthening Kenya’s disaster preparedness and response systems through capacity building, innovation, information sharing, and post-disaster recovery strategies.
Kishore commended Kenya for its leadership in disaster risk reduction and for launching the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, which aims to improve disaster forecasting and reduce vulnerability.
Murkomen also paid a courtesy call on Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva, Ambassador Dr. Fancy Too, noting that Kenya’s diplomatic presence in Geneva since 1995 has enabled stronger engagement in global humanitarian and security conversations.
He said the Ministry of Interior is coordinating various agencies to build national resilience and mitigate the impacts of disasters across the country.
The CS is leading the Kenyan delegation attending the week-long global conference in Geneva.
