President William Ruto has called on the international community to adopt a fairer approach to refugee support, noting that Kenya continues to shoulder one of the world’s largest refugee populations despite limited resources.
Speaking during the opening of the 14th International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges World Conference in Nairobi, President Ruto said Kenya is home to nearly 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers, a responsibility the country has embraced with dignity and compassion.
“We are proud of our role in hosting refugees… but we also recognise our limits,” he said, urging global partners to strengthen financial support, enhance resettlement programs, and deepen technical cooperation. “True solidarity is not charity—it is a commitment to justice for refugees as we pursue lasting and sustainable solutions.”
The President highlighted Kenya’s ongoing reforms to improve the protection and integration of refugees, including the Shirika Plan, which seeks to strengthen legal and institutional structures that allow refugees to rebuild their lives more independently.
He emphasised that Kenya is working to ensure all refugees and migrants are treated with fairness, saying the country’s judiciary and refugee institutions must uphold integrity, courage, and due process in their decisions.
Ruto further called for global collaboration in restoring stability in conflict-affected regions to address the root causes of displacement.
“As we support refugees here, the ultimate goal must be peace and stability in their home countries,” he said.
