President Uhuru Kenyatta has given the clearest indication that repatriation of Somali refugees at Daadab is still on course, a task he said will be executed with the help of international community.
Terming the events that led to establishment of Daadab a terrible tragedy, President Kenyatta said yesterday that the best response to it is to help refugees return and rebuild their country.
He said Kenya’s policy and efforts to hasten the repatriation and resettlement of refugees continue, guided by the relevant domestic and international laws and agreements.
“Our policy has been clear for sometime… our efforts to hasten the repatriation and resettlement of the refugees continue,” said President Kenyatta.
He made the remarks after holding bilateral talks with United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who was also served as Portugal Prime Minister at State House Nairobi.
The President’s remarks came weeks after a High Court in Nairobi quashed the Government’s plan to close down Daadab refugee camp. The court also declared repatriation of refugees unconstitutional and discriminative.
Kenya is expected to host an Extra-Ordinary Summit on March 25, bringing together IGAD Heads of State and Government and partners of the region, to discuss durable solutions to the plight of Somali refugees, with the President inviting Guterres to join in discussion, and to seek a lasting answer to this critical problem.
Guterres, on his part described Kenya as a symbol of positive story of Africa, replacing the usual narrative of unending crises, even as he stated that Africa is a beacon of hope and should now be seen more as a land of achievement and opportunity.