NAIROBI, Kenya- The United Nations has urged the international community to step up financial and technical support for Kenya’s refugee programme, warning that the country is shouldering a disproportionate burden amid a deepening global humanitarian funding crisis.
Speaking on Sunday, January 11, after touring Kakuma Refugee Camp, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Barham Salih praised Kenya’s inclusive refugee policies, describing the country as a regional model for protection and integration.
Kenya ‘Doing Its Part’ Amid Funding Cuts
Salih said Kenya has continued to provide education, healthcare and shelter to refugees despite severe budget constraints and declining donor support.
“Kenya has been quite remarkable and truly stands out as a model for protection in this troubled region. Kenya is doing its part, but it needs greater international support,” he said.
He called on development partners, multilateral lenders and global institutions, including the World Bank, to back Kenya’s approach of integrating refugees into national systems rather than isolating them in aid-dependent camps.
“This is something the international community needs to engage with—to make shared development a reality and include refugees in national life,” Salih added.
Kakuma Visit Highlights Integration Push
The UNHCR chief is in Kenya on his first official visit since assuming office on January 1, and is expected to spend time engaging directly with refugees to hear their concerns and aspirations.
During his visit to Kakuma—home to more than 300,000 refugees—Salih said Kenya’s efforts offered important lessons globally, particularly at a time when displacement levels continue to rise.
As of January 2026, Kenya hosts over 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with the Dadaab refugee complex accommodating nearly 406,000 people.
Shirika Plan in Focus
Salih’s remarks come against the backdrop of Kenya’s Shirika Plan, launched in 2025, which seeks to integrate refugees into host communities through self-reliant settlements and socio-economic inclusion.
The plan aims to shift refugees away from long-term dependency on humanitarian aid while ensuring host communities also benefit from development investments.
Global Humanitarian System Under Strain
The call for support comes as the global humanitarian system grapples with its worst funding crisis in decades, following sharp aid cuts by major donors including the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
UNHCR disclosed that by June 2025, it had reduced global staffing costs by nearly 30 pc, leading to the closure of offices and the loss of more than 3,500 permanent staff and hundreds of temporary workers.
According to the agency, funding shortfalls have affected 12.8 million displaced people worldwide, including 6.3 million children, by limiting access to primary healthcare and other essential services. In Kenya alone, the cuts have impacted over 800,000 refugees.
Salih pledged continued UNHCR support in exploring sustainable, long-term solutions for refugees in Kenya, while reiterating that the country cannot be left to manage the challenge alone.
