Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has told the Senate that Kenya has been receiving at least 20 refugees daily from South Sudan following the recent political crisis in the neighbouring country.

The crisis is occasioned by the power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, which has led to Machar being put under house arrest with a state of animosity currently being witnessed in the country.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary, who appeared before the Senate plenary to answer questions, said that the Ushirika, a government initiative seeking to reintegrate refugees, aimed at ensuring that they contribute to the well-being of the country, given the long time they have been here.

“The country has hosted refugees for the last 35 years in Daadab and Kakuma refugee camps. Ushirika’s plan is to ensure that they make a contribution to the country since some of them were born here, and it is only wise that they be included in doing some activities,” said Mudavadi.

He informed the house that 4,993 out of the total 5,643 Kenya Borana refugees’ population who moved to Ethiopia in 2006 and 2007, still retained their identity cards and are now willing to return home voluntarily.

Mudavadi added that majority of the refugees are not willing to return to their area of origin due to fear of ethnic conflict.

“According to the Department of Refugee Services, over 500 families of Kenyan origin living in Ditto and Megado areas of Southern Ethiopia ran away to seek asylum due to inter-ethnic conflicts in North Horr in the year 2000 with the conflicts culminating into what came to be known as the Turbi massacre,” said Mudavadi.

Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute had asked Mudavadi to give Information on the number of Kenyan refugees in Megado and Dillo and provide information on the timelines and circumstances of their displacement to Ethiopia as well as the current state of their wellbeing.

Mudavadi said the government only facilitates return and reintegration into the Kenyan society for any Kenyan refugee granted asylum by any country, with no compensation paid for any returning Kenyan in response to Chute’s question on whether there will be compensation.

He said there was engagement and coordination between UNHCR, Kenya and Ethiopia government to facilitate the return of the refuges, including on the required legal formalities, including documentation, the sendoff from Ethiopia and the reception in Kenya should be done simultaneously.