The Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has challenged developed countries to provide financial support to Kenya to enable it to sustain the stay of refugees in the country.
Speaking after meeting humanitarian assistance partners on Tuesday, Murkomen noted that Kenya is doing its part by hosting the refugees, something it has been doing for over three decades and it was only imperative that developed countries lend a hand by providing resources.
The meeting follows a protest by refugees on Monday where the asylum seekers were demonstrating the reduction in food portions provided by the World Food Program (WFP) which is now only able to offer 40 per cent of the basic minimum ration.
The demonstrations have spilled into the second week with the refugees demanding the reinstatement of essential supplies, which were cut due to funding shortages.
On Monday, the protests turned violent as police attempted to disperse irate refugees, some ended up nursing injuries.
According to Murkomen, Kenya's ability to sustain the refugees has been suppressed further following the recent foreign aid cut by the United States of America.
"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," the CS noted.
According to Murkomen, Kenya which cares for the refugee's food, security, and security is determined to continue with its belief in shared humanity and would not want to turn its back on them and that is why it is calling for help.
"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. It's therefore incumbent on developed countries to shoulder the financial burden as we do our bit," Murkomen explained.
Also present in the meeting include the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya Dr Stephen Jackson, heads of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund UNICEF, World Food Programme, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Foreign Aid cut by President Donald Trump is continuing to affect many sectors in the country in the country.
Meanwhile, senior leaders in the country including the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudabadi have fully supported the Aid cut, terming the move as a challenge to Kenya and other African leaders to become independent.
