• Mudavadi has highlighted that the Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently verified the Borena refugee population.

On April 2, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also doubles up as the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, appeared before the Senate plenary to apprise the House on what the Government is doing to facilitate the repatriation of the Kenyan refugees in Magatho and Dilo Towns in Ethiopia.

According to CS Mudavadi, over 500 families of Kenyan origin living in the Dillo and Megado areas of Southern Ethiopia ran away to seek asylum due to inter-ethnic conflicts in North Horr in 2000, culminating in what came to be known as the Turbi Massacre.

“A significant number of Kenyan Borena refugees in Dillo and Magatho settlements, Ethiopia, are eager to return home, expressing a strong desire to relocate to Kenya immediately. The Government is actively working on plans to facilitate their repatriation,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi has highlighted that the Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently verified the Borena refugee population.

“Remarkably, 88% of the 5,643 refugees indicated a clear intention to return to Kenya without delay. Due to the close proximity to the Kenya-Ethiopia border and strong family ties in Kenya, many refugees occasionally cross into Kenya to visit relatives. In light of this, UNHCR favors a self-organized return process,” he said.

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PCS Mudavadi has emphasized that for repatriation to proceed, it is essential that the refugees willingly choose to return and that the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia engage in consultations with support from the UNHCR Regional Bureau and local offices.

“Currently, 4993 individuals have expressed interest to return back to Kenya and the process of repatriation should begin. However, before repatriation begins, we must address where they will return to and how they will be accommodated,” he said.