From Food Rationing Cuts to Deforestation, Governor Nathif Jama Puts Urgent Issues on the Table as New UNHCR Leadership Takes Over.
Garissa Governor H.E Nathif Jama Aden on Monday received the newly appointed UNHCR Representative in Kenya, Madam Fatima Mohammed-Cole, in what turned out to be far more than a courtesy call the Governor used the meeting to lay out a frank and detailed account of the pressing challenges facing refugees and host communities in Garissa County.
The meeting was attended on the UNHCR side by Dr. William Ejalu, Head of the UNHCR Sub-Office at Dadaab Refugee Camp, while the Governor was accompanied by Mr. Jamal Mohamed, Chief Officer for Donor and Partners Coordination at the Garissa County Government reflecting the seriousness and substance both sides attached to the engagement.
Governor Nathif opened the engagement by congratulating Madam Mohammed-Cole on her appointment and wishing her success in her new role, before proceeding to raise a series of urgent concerns that he said could no longer wait.
Food, Nutrition and the Aid Funding Crisis
At the top of the Governor’s agenda was the deteriorating food and nutrition situation in the refugee camps, particularly in the wake of sharp cuts to international aid funding that have significantly reduced food rationing programmes. Governor Nathif called on the new UNHCR Representative to take a fresh and urgent look at refugee welfare, warning that the situation on the ground is becoming increasingly dire.
The Differentiated Assistance Controversy
The Governor also raised the growing outcry from within the camps over the Differentiated Assistance (DA) arrangement, which he said appears to have negatively impacted a large number of refugees with the most vulnerable groups bearing the heaviest burden. He urged UNHCR to review how the programme is being implemented and to address the grievances that have been mounting among camp residents.
Staff Terminations at Dadaab; A Labour Rights Concern
In a pointed intervention, Governor Nathif drew attention to complaints from a section of UNHCR employees in Dadaab who allege that their contracts have been terminated, or are being terminated, improperly and in violation of applicable labour laws and procedures. He called for urgent internal attention to the matter, stressing the importance of due process and fair treatment for all workers.
Keep the Garissa UNHCR Office Open
The Governor also made a specific request for the UNHCR office in Garissa town to remain operational, underscoring its critical role in coordinating activities and maintaining engagement between the county government and the agency. The office, he argued, is not a convenience it is a necessity.
Reviving the Shirika Plan and GISIDEP
Governor Nathif used the meeting to champion two key refugee-focused development blueprints the Shirika Plan and its local operational framework, Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (GISEDP) , calling on Madam Mohammed-Cole to prioritise efforts to reactivate and revitalize both programmes. He appealed to UNHCR, under her new leadership, to spearhead meaningful engagement with international partners to mobilize the funding, technical expertise and financial support needed to bring both frameworks back to life.
Ending Deforestation Through Alternative Cooking Fuel
In a plea that touched on both environmental and humanitarian concerns, the Governor pressed for urgent exploration and implementation of alternative cooking fuel systems for refugees in the camps. He warned that the continued cutting of trees for firewood is accelerating deforestation and land degradation across an already fragile county, and that the situation demands an immediate and practical solution.
The meeting signals an early and direct engagement between Garissa’s county leadership and the new UNHCR Representative and Governor Nathif made clear that the people of Garissa, both refugees and host communities alike, expect results.
Madam Mohammed-Cole is expected to visit the Dadaab refugee complex, one of the largest in the world, as she familiarises herself with her new mandate in Kenya.
