NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – The deputy President of Kenya, Wiliam Ruto said on Friday that 300,000 refugees have been repatriated to Somalia under the Safe Voluntary Return programme since December 2014.
In 2013, UN refugees agency, Somalia and Kenyan governments inked a tripartite deal for the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Kenya.
The repatriation spearhead by UNHCR partnering with Somalia and Kenya had kicked off in 2014.
Ruto asked the United Nations to continue facilitating the repatriation programme.
He said Kenya will continue protecting the remaining 200,000 refugees as efforts to fight insecurity that is caused by terrorism are stepped up.
“It is encouraging that a good number of refugees have heeded our call to go back to their homes but those who opted to remain will be protected,” Ruto said.
The leader hinted that his government will turn structures left by the refugees into a modern education centre.
Ruto said schools that were initially used by refugees will be turned into boarding schools for girls and a Technical and Vocational Education and Training will be set up.
The DP said Kenya and its development partners would use Sh100 billion in the economic transformation of Northern Kenya and North Eastern region.
Ruto said the funds would be used in the development of water, roads, health, energy and education.
The DP also said a committee has been formed to vet youths from Kenya who had registered as refugees at the Dadaab camps.
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