Kakuma, February 7, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has called for the utilisation of the recently established Ateker Council as a regional platform to strengthen cross-border collaboration between Kenya and Ethiopia on refugee programming.

Dr. Erus made the remarks while hosting a United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) delegation from Ethiopia on a benchmarking visit to refugee camps in Kenya.

The delegation is studying emerging approaches to refugee management, settlement planning, and the role of sub-national governments in refugee operations.

“Turkana County has set the pace as a responsible sub-national government in refugee hosting by establishing supportive legal and governance frameworks that allow refugees to petition the County Assembly. These are unique lessons that can be replicated in other global contexts,” Dr. Erus said.

He noted that the county has strengthened collaboration with the State Department for Refugee Services (DRS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), complementing national and international efforts while ensuring that interventions benefit both host communities and refugees.

“Given the strong cultural ties shared with neighbouring regions of Ethiopia under the Ateker community, leveraging the Ateker Council to develop sustainable solutions to refugee-related challenges could significantly enhance cross-border collaboration in refugee management,” he added.

Dr. Erus further observed that the platform could help align programmes, promote coordinated implementation of interventions, and strengthen diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries.

UN-Habitat team lead Erick Muchunku said the visiting delegation engaged with several organisations providing shared services to host and refugee communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, documenting key lessons to inform future refugee settlement planning initiatives in Ethiopia.

He commended Kenyan authorities and development partners for their openness, noting that the experience reflected a shift from viewing refugees as a humanitarian burden to recognising them as contributors to sustainable economic development in host areas.

Chief Officer for Partnerships Janerose Tioko welcomed the learning mission, emphasising that continued knowledge exchange among countries and institutions is critical to improving refugee response interventions and strengthening inclusive development approaches.