TURKANA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Turkana County Assembly have agreed to develop a joint action plan to strengthen cooperation on refugee protection and support for host communities. The agreement was reached during a meeting on August 25, 2026, between Turkana County Assembly Speaker Hon. Charles Lokioto Ewoi and UNHCR Representative to Kenya, Ms. Fatima Mohammed Cole.
The discussions centered on the role of the County Assembly in developing policies, legislation, and programmes that improve the lives of refugees and hosting communities. Under the agreed plan, the two institutions will map out priority areas of collaboration, define responsibilities for each side, set implementation timelines, and establish monitoring mechanisms to track progress. The move is expected to make county laws and policies more responsive to realities in refugee-hosting areas.
Speaker Ewoi emphasized the Assembly’s critical role in ensuring refugee and host community needs are captured in county legislation. “It is important to continue strengthening cooperation between the County Assembly and UNHCR to ensure that policies and laws being developed address the needs of refugees and host communities,” he said. He also stressed the need for Members of the County Assembly to have a deeper understanding of the Shirika Plan, including its objectives, implementation framework, and expected contribution to refugees and host communities in Turkana.
In response, UNHCR committed to sending a dedicated technical team to Turkana to work directly with the Assembly on policy and legislative matters. This team will help identify strategic areas where legislative action can enhance protection for refugees while simultaneously supporting the local host communities.
Highlighting ongoing local engagement, UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office Head Nundri Sateesh thanked the Assembly for conducting civic education on amendments to its Standing Orders, noting that the initiative increases public understanding of legislative procedures. “Public awareness of the Standing Orders is important because it enables communities to understand parliamentary procedures and how to exercise their right to submit petitions,” Sateesh said, noting this will empower communities to effectively present their complaints and issues to the Assembly.
Ms. Cole welcomed the Assembly’s focus on public awareness and citizen participation, calling access to information and community involvement essential components of effective protection. “Citizen participation and access to information are important in ensuring that programmes affecting refugees and host communities are implemented in a manner that responds to their needs,” she said.
The meeting was attended by key UNHCR officials, including Kakuma Sub-Office Head Nundri Sateesh, alongside representatives from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS). This engagement marks a significant step forward in institutional cooperation regarding policy development, legislative framework, citizen participation, and long-term refugee protection in the region.
