Government Launches Shirika Plan to Enhance Refugee and host communities Inclusion
By Stanley Nyale
Nairobi, March 28, 2025
The Government of Kenya has launched the Shirika Plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to integrate refugees into the country’s socioeconomic fabric. Unveiled by H.E President Dr. William Ruto on 28th March 2025, the plan represents a fundamental shift from a humanitarian-driven response to a government-led, development-oriented approach, aimed at fostering sustainable inclusion for both refugees and host communities.
The Shirika Plan, derived from the word Ushirika (Swahili for "collaboration"), aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and global commitments such as the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) of 2018. It replaces parallel service delivery systems with an integrated model that ensures refugees can access education, healthcare, and economic opportunities alongside their Kenyan counterparts.
As of February 2025, Kenya hosts 836,907 refugees and asylum seekers, with significant populations in Dadaab (423,674), Kakuma (302,372), and urban areas (110,861). The Shirika Plan seeks to bolster their inclusion while simultaneously strengthening local economies and fostering social cohesion.
The plan focuses on several key pillars to drive its objectives. It prioritizes policy and institutional reforms, including the full implementation of the Refugee Act 2021, granting refugees access to business opportunities and work, pursue education, and access property. Additionally, a Refugee Management Information System will be established to facilitate real-time data tracking, and enhanced security measures will be put in place to maintain stability in refugee-hosting areas.
Under the integration of services for refugees and host communities, the plan ensures all refugee schools are registered under the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), with increased deployment of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) instructors in affected areas. Scholarships will also be expanded to support refugee students in universities and TVET institutions. Healthcare initiatives include enrolling refugees in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and upgrading medical facilities in Dadaab and Kakuma to national standards. In housing and infrastructure, efforts will be made to decongest Kakuma Refugee Camp through planned resettlements and improve urban planning in Dadaab to promote sustainable growth.
The economic empowerment and skills development component of the plan will expand vocational training programs to match market demands, establish a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework for skilled refugees, and enhance access to microfinance for refugee and host community entrepreneurs.
Environmental sustainability is another key focus, with measures such as reforestation initiatives to combat desertification, alternative energy sources such as solar energy adoption to reduce reliance on firewood, and sustainable water management strategies to address scarcity.
For long-term solutions, the Shirika Plan provides pathways for voluntary repatriation to stable home countries, third-country resettlement for vulnerable refugees, and full socioeconomic inclusion for long-term refugees meeting eligibility criteria.
The implementation of the Shirika Plan will span eleven years (2025–2036) and follow three phases: Transition, Stabilization, and Resilience. With an estimated budget of $943 million, a National Steering Committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, will oversee its execution in collaboration with county governments (Turkana, Garissa, Nairobi), UN agencies, refugee donors and development partners, and the private sector.
By 2036, the plan aims to achieve the full integration of refugees into national service systems, enhance self-reliance, strengthen social cohesion between refugees and host communities, and drive sustainable economic growth in refugee-hosting regions.
The Department of Refugee Services (DRS) as the government coordinating institution calls upon development partners, private investors, and civil society organizations to support this transformative initiative. Through collective efforts, Kenya can build a more inclusive and prosperous society for all.
For more information, Access the document here
or contact us through the contacts below:
Department of Refugee Services
Email: refugeeaffairs@refugee.go.ke, info@refugee.go.ke
Phone: +254 020 440 5057 or +254 759 164 972