Kakuma, January 11th, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Deputy Governor Dr John Erus led the Turkana County leadership in welcoming the newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Barham Salih, during his official visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Dr Erus said the visit provided an opportunity for the county and UNHCR to engage on the implementation of the Shirika Plan, an initiative that seeks to shift refugee management from a purely humanitarian model to an inclusive, development-oriented approach.

“It was an honour to host the head of the global refugee agency on his first international mission to Kakuma. As a county, we are fully prepared to work closely with UNHCR to advance the objectives of the Shirika Plan going forward,” Dr Erus said.

Having assumed office on January 1, 2026, succeeding Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner used the visit to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Kakuma Refugee Camp sub office leadership, refugee-led organisations, grassroots and national leaders, refugees, and members of the host community.

In a symbolic gesture, the Turkana County Assembly Speaker Charles Lokioto presented the High Commissioner with the Assembly’s Standing Orders to show legislature’s commitment to policy and legal frameworks that support refugee inclusion.

Before his appointment to the UN’s top refugee post, Salih held several senior leadership positions in Iraq, culminating in his tenure as President from 2018 to 2022.

Also present during the visit were Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita, Turkana West Member of Parliament Epuyo Nanok, Chief Officer for Partnerships Janerose Tioko, representatives of the Directorate of Refugee Services (DRS), County Security team, Turkana West sub county administration, Kakuma Municipality leadership and other county and national government officials.