Interior Cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has convened a high-level crisis meeting with humanitarian assistance partners to discuss urgent interventions over funding cuts affecting humanitarian work within the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 4, Murkomen noted that the meeting was aimed at developing medium and long-term strategies to cushion the country from the worsening refugee situation.
Further, he referenced recent protests that took place at the Kakuma over the reduction in food portions.
According to Murkomen, the food rationing is a result of a 40 per cent cut in funding from the World Food Programme (WFP), which provides critical food assistance.
“Following recent aid freezes and budget cuts for humanitarian assistance programs by developed countries, the impact on our country’s ability to host refugees and asylum seekers which number over 800,000 people, has been sudden and severe,” he stated.
Also Read: US Retracts Trump’s Order to Freeze Haiti Funding
Details of Murkomen Led Crisis Meeting
The interior CS highlighted that Kenya has been hosting refugees for over three decades, because of conflicts across the region.
Humanitarian assistance provided include healthcare, education, food, and security.
However, with donor nations pulling back humanitarian funding, Murkomen indicated that the pressure on local resources has become unbearable.
“Our country has hosted refugees fleeing conflicts in the region for over 3 decades. We shoulder the burden of healthcare, education, food and security.
“With the cut in funding for humanitarian assistance programs by the developed world, the socio-economic impact on our country will be unbearable. And yet to turn our backs on the most vulnerable people runs counter to our belief in shared humanity,” he explained.
Murkomen met humanitarian assistance partners including the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Kenya Dr. Stephen Jackson.
Others present included heads of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The meeting explored medium and long-term strategies for addressing the anticipated funding shortfalls.
Also Read: Details of John Mbadi’s Meeting with US Envoy After Trump’s Foreign Aid Cut
Mbadi’s Crisis Meeting
Earlier, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi met the Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy Marc Dillard to discuss the funding cuts and their potential implications for Kenya.
They discussed the temporary 90-day suspension of certain foreign aid programs by US President Donald Trump as part of a broader review aimed at assessing their effectiveness and alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities.
In spite of the funding cuts, the Chargé d’Affaires reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to supporting relief efforts in Haiti, food assistance programs, and other life-saving initiatives, ensuring that crucial humanitarian support remains uninterrupted.
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