Turkana Deputy Governor John Erus held talks with the Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Joshua Tabah on potential partnerships to advance the cause of refugee inclusion agenda in the county.

The meeting, which brought together representatives from the national and county governments, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), focused on collaboration to strengthen integration of refugees in the economies of host communities.

Dr Erus underlined the county government’s commitment to promoting inclusive approaches that empower both the host and refugee populations. He emphasised the need to align all humanitarian interventions with the county’s development priorities to enhance local ownership and sustainability.

“We believe that full inclusion of host communities in all refugee programmes will deliver shared results that are beneficial to all,” Erus said. “While we value the significant role played by our partners, the time has come to empower the county government and local institutions to drive the inclusion agenda.”

Citing the Shirika Plan and Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP) as key inclusion instruments, the deputy governor called for greater support in unpacking the two frameworks to the public.

He observed that limited public awareness of these documents remains a barrier to meaningful participation by both host and refugee communities.

Canadian High Commissioner Joshua Tabah commended Kenya for fostering peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities. He reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to support ongoing efforts aimed at promoting inclusion.

“Canada remains committed to working with Turkana and other partners in advancing inclusive responses to refugee and host community needs,” stated the high commissioner.

Department of Refugee Services (DRS) Kakuma Camp Manager Edwin Chabari said there’s a need for renewed donor support to sustain essential services within the Kakuma refugee settlement. He noted that while Kakuma remains a vibrant hub of cultural diversity, resource constraints continue to present challenges to service provision.

“We continue to work closely with county and sub-county teams to ensure proper documentation and inclusion of all refugees in service delivery,” Chabari said. “We urge development partners to expand their support to maintain gains in protection, education, and livelihoods.”

Participants at the meeting received a comprehensive presentation on the refugee situation in Turkana, ongoing interventions, and proposed strategies for advancing inclusion under existing policy frameworks.

• A Tell Media / KNA report By Peter Gitonga