This week, I was honoured to welcome Ms. Mercy Mwasaru, Commissioner for the Department of Refugee Affairs, on her maiden visit to
#Dadaab, a visit of real significance at a time when Kenya’s refugee response is undergoing a profound transition under the SHIRIKA Plan.
The visit went beyond formal engagements. It provided an important opportunity to align perspectives on the evolving refugee policy landscape, reaffirm shared responsibilities between national leadership and field operations, and reflect on how SHIRIKA’s shift from care and maintenance to inclusion, self‑reliance, and shared prosperity must be grounded in lived realities to deliver durable and dignified solutions for refugees and host communities.
The Commissioner’s engagement with partners through an inter‑agency roundtable further reinforced the spirit of SHIRIKA; collective leadership, coordinated action, and whole of system thinking. Discussions focused on the future of refugee affairs in Kenya, the operationalisation of development‑oriented approaches, and the need for innovation, accountability, and partnerships that endure beyond humanitarian cycles in protracted displacement contexts.
For over three decades, Dadaab has stood as a symbol of resilience, solidarity, and international cooperation. As Kenya advances bold policy frameworks that integrate humanitarian response with long‑term inclusion and socio‑economic integration, such high level visits matter. They anchor policy in practice and ensure that the voices, challenges, and aspirations of refugees and host communities remain central.
We look forward to working closely with the Commissioner and all stakeholders to translate shared policy vision into meaningful, lasting impact.
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