by SHARON MWENDE
Wednesday January 11, 2023
Interior and National Administration CS Kindiki Kithure in a past event. Image: FILE
Interior CS Kindiki Kithure has designated two more areas as refugee camps in Garissa.
The areas include the Ifo 2 in Daadab ward and Kambioos in Jarajilla ward in Fafi.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 28 (2) of the Refugees Act, 2021, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration designates the areas specified in the Schedule as Refugee Camps," a Gazette notice reads.
The two camps were established in 2011 to cater to any influx.
They, however, remained closed with the reduction of the numbers in Dadaab as a result of the voluntary return programme.
The designation followed a report by UNHCR saying some 24,000 people had arrived in the Dadaab refugee camps from Somalia.
The arrival resulted in inadequate space in the camps, forcing the refugees to reside in makeshift shelters.
In December 2022, Kindiki hosted talks with International Organisation for Migration delegation.
The delegation held talks aimed at enhancing the partnership on securing the safe movement of persons between Kenya and Somalia.
The meeting was led by the regional director for East and Horn of Africa, Muhammed Abdiker together with senior officials.Other camps that are home to Somali refugees include Hagadera, Dagahaley and Ifo.
As of July 2020, the three Daadab refugee camps had a population of 218, 873 registered refugees.