On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) and the County Assembly Turkana (CAT) came together at the Monarch Hotel in Nairobi to further strengthen their collaboration under the Letter of Agreement (LOA) 2023-2027, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) and the County Assembly of Turkana.
The event focused on stimulating legislative frameworks and enhancing capacity sharing to promote inclusive and sustainable development for both refugee and host communities in Turkana County. The gathering provided a platform for reflection on past achievements and the formulation of future strategies to strengthen local governance and facilitate the integration of refugees into the broader community.
RCK Executive Director, Barlet Colly Jaji, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, reaffirming RCK’s commitment to supporting Turkana County’s integration efforts, which address the needs of refugees and Host Community alike.
“Looking at what RCK has done with the county government of Turkana and why Turkana first and foremost is that it’s a refugee hosting county for us. We are looking at the integration as one of the durable solutions in terms of inclusive response to the needs of the refugees, but also to the needs of the local population” Barlet aid.
RCK’s partnership with Turkana County Assembly dates back to 2017and has since evolved to tackle critical issues impacting both the refugee and host communities.
“This journey under the second LOA started back in 2023, and now we are focusing on issues that are crucial for both refugees and the local community,” He added.
The meeting highlighted several key accomplishments from the first year of the 2023-2027 Letter of Agreement (LOA). One outstanding achievement was RCK’s involvement in the drafting of the Finance Bill 2023, a collaborative effort that allowed both the Senate legal team and the Turkana County Assembly to develop a bill that addresses the economic needs of both the host and refugee communities. Additionally, RCK facilitated an in-depth review of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) III, ensuring County Assembly members fully understood development priorities and enabling informed decision-making for both populations.
The Speaker of the County Assembly of Turkana, Hon. Christopher Nakuleu recognized RCK’s significant contributions.
“Today’s meeting has provided a valuable opportunity to review our achievements and recognize the hard work we have done with RCK. Our collaboration has helped us create legislations that are responsive to the needs of both our local residents and refugees. It’s a partnership rooted in understanding and shared goals,” said Hon. Nakuleu.
Ms. Millicent Nangor, the Assistant Director of Legal Services at the Turkana County Assembly, echoed the Speaker’s sentiments, highlighting the fundamental role RCK has played in supporting the legislative processes of the assembly.
“RCK has been instrumental in enhancing our legislative work, particularly in drafting legal instruments and facilitating public participation processes,” Millicent shared.
She also noted how RCK’s sensitization efforts have increased understanding of the Refugees Act 2021 and oversight mandate among County Assembly members.
“With this sensitization, we have come to realize that the county government has a larger role to play in local integration. Members of the County Assembly are now more aware of their responsibilities in overseeing the integration process,” she noted.
The positive impact of RCK’s contributions to public participation forums and community engagement was also acknowledged.
“Public participation enhances community understanding of the role of the County Assembly and the laws we pass, allowing us to strengthen our mandate and ensure that the community’s voice is heard,” Millicent added.
The RCK Executive Director Barlet expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from partners, particularly highlighting the significant role played which will contribute to this ongoing work.
Looking to the future, Barlet reaffirmed RCK’s commitment to advancing the shared vision for the collaboration.
“We are committed to driving forward the establishment and effective implementation of progressive policies and legislation that foster inclusivity, unity, resilience, and sustainable growth in Turkana County,” he concluded.
The Speaker Nakuleu also voiced his commitment to deepening the partnership and expanding the collaboration.
“My commitment as Speaker is to see the working relationship between RCK and the Turkana County Assembly grow and evolve into a higher scale,” he affirmed.
