The European Union has expressed support for Kenya’s leadership in regional peacebuilding and the country’s crucial role in the Sudan crisis.
The European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, on Tuesday, April 15, met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at the sidelines of the High-level Conference for Sudan, co-hosted in London by the Commission alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the African Union.
This comes after two years of armed conflict, which has strongly affected the population in the area.
Kenya lauded for steps taken in managing the Sudan crisis
Hadja, while expressing support for Kenya’s crucial role in the crisis, highlighted the country’s Shirika Plan, a multi-year initiative which aims to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees in Kenya by transforming camps into integrated settlements for both refugees and asylum seekers.
“The Shirika Plan offers a unique chance to integrate refugees & support host communities. The European Union stands ready to help,” she said.
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Mudavadi, on his part, said that the two leaders reflected on the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between Kenya and the European Union, spanning peace and security, trade, agriculture, renewable energy, transport, digitisation, and more.
He acknowledged the EU’s vital role as a key development partner and reaffirmed Kenya’s strong ties with all EU member states.
“I expressed confidence that our cooperation will continue to grow under her leadership. Kenya’s commitment to human rights remains steadfast, as demonstrated by our current tenure (2025–2027) on the UN Human Rights Council. I reiterated our dedication to advancing gender equality and protecting the rights of children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and marginalized communities,” said Mudavadi.
To help address the difficult humanitarian situation in Sudan, the European Commission and member States have pledged €522 million (Ksh76.76 billion) in aid for 2025 for Sudan while Britain announced an extra $158 million (Ksh20.5 billion) in aid.
Kenya has opened gates for refugees and asylum seekers for a long time. It ranks as the fifth largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the 13th globally, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Shirika Plan
As of February 2023, the country had over 577,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers.
Additionally, there were over 100,000 unregistered asylum-seekers undergoing formal registration by the government.
Majority reside in camps, including Dadaab (Garissa County) and Kakuma (Turkana County), while about 92,000 refugees reside in Nairobi and other urban areas.
Also Read: Why Kenya is Likely to Receive More Refugees
In alignment with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and its Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), Kenya, in collaboration with partners, has undertaken various initiatives to improve conditions for refugees and host communities.
These efforts include the development of frameworks like SHARE, KISEDP, GISEDP, and implementation of development projects funded by entities such as the World Bank, IFC, and EU-INTPA.
The Shirika Plan (formerly the Marshal Plan) is a collaborative effort between the Government of Kenya and UNHCR Kenya.
Kenya’s intention to transition from camps to integrated settlements under the Shirika Plan was conseptualized in February 2022, signaling a significant policy shift in refugee management.
Aligned with SHARE, the Plan seeks to alleviate pressure on hosting communities and enhance self-reliance for both refugees and host communities.
It encompasses various sectors such as education, health, livelihoods, social protection, and environmental management.
Unveiled by President William Ruto on March 28, 2025, the Plan represents a fundamental shift from a humanitarian-driven response to a government-led, development-oriented approach, aimed at fostering sustainable inclusion for both refugees and host communities.
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