Monday, August 18, 2014
KENYA is seeking $100 million (Sh8.8bn) from the international community for the repatriation of more than half a million Somali refugees.
In a regional meeting to be held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Wednesday, Kenya will also seek international political goodwill for the resettlement of refugees in their home country.
The money will go towards the safe repatriation of the refugees and provide them with adequate resources after returning home.
The meeting brings together countries that host Somali refugees including Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda and Yemen.
Among Kenya's agenda is to seek international support in the implementation of the tripartite agreement that has been dogged by logistical challenges and "lack of political goodwill" by one of the parties, Somalia.
In the meeting, Kenya will express its "frustration about Somalia's unwillingness" to participate in the process.
On Friday, Somalia boycotted the latest talks aimed at launching the tripartite commission mandated to move the process forward. The launch has since been suspended indefinitely. Somalia has not given reasons why it boycotted the latest talks.
Spokesperson for the Interior ministry Njoka Mwenda said the meeting will identify opportunities to ensure refugees can return safely and live in relative peace after return.
He said Kenya will seek adequate resources for returnees to support themselves and help to foster political stability in areas where they are seeking to return.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku, department of refugee affairs commissioner Harun Komen and the chair of technical committee on the repatriation of refugees Ali Korane will lead the Kenyan delegation.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and representatives of humanitarian agencies are also expected to attend.
The agreement signed in November last year brings together Kenya, Somalia and the UN refugee agency.
Kenya hosts the largest number of Somali refugees in the region, at the Dadaab camp.