- Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen urges developed countries to provide financial aid for Kenya’s refugee programs.
- Kenya is struggling to sustain over 800,000 refugees amid U.S. foreign aid cuts.
- Refugees have been protesting reduced food rations from the World Food Programme (WFP).
- Murkomen warns that funding cuts have severely impacted Kenya’s ability to support refugees.
- Senior Kenyan leaders, including Moses Wetang’ula and Musalia Mudavadi, back the aid cuts, urging African nations to strive for self-reliance.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on developed nations to step in and provide financial support to Kenya as it continues to host hundreds of thousands of refugees. Speaking after a meeting with humanitarian organizations on Tuesday, Murkomen stressed that Kenya has been hosting refugees for over three decades, but funding shortages are making it increasingly difficult to sustain them.
“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—has been sudden and severe,” Murkomen stated.
The plea comes amid ongoing refugee protests over reduced food portions provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), which is now only able to distribute 40% of the minimum required rations due to funding constraints. The demonstrations, which have continued for two weeks, turned violent on Monday as police dispersed irate protesters.
Humanitarian Agencies Express Concern
The meeting was attended by key humanitarian organizations, including:
- United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Dr. Stephen Jackson
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
These agencies have been leading the charge in refugee support, but budget cuts have severely hampered their efforts. Murkomen emphasized that Kenya remains committed to hosting refugees but cannot bear the financial burden alone.
“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,” Murkomen added.
Political Leaders Support Aid Cuts
Despite Murkomen’s appeal, top Kenyan leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, have backed the U.S. aid cuts. They argue that this should be a wake-up call for Kenya and other African nations to become more self-reliant rather than depending on foreign assistance.
The impact of President Donald Trump’s foreign aid cuts continues to ripple through various sectors in Kenya, raising concerns about the future of critical humanitarian programs in the country.
