On August 14, 2026, the Kenya School of Government, Security Management Institute (KSG – SMI) concluded the Refugee Management Program Cohort III at the School, following a two-week training program for participants from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Department of Refugee Services and county governments of Nairobi, Turkana and Garissa.

The training emphasized the importance of integrated, inclusive and development-oriented approaches to refugee management, while promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing among institutions and across counties.

Ms. Rikke Holm, representing DANIDA and the Danish Embassy, reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment, through the Programme for Inclusive Refugee Response (PIRR), to supporting capacity-building initiatives.

In his closing remarks, Ag. Director SMI, Dr. Emmanuel Kisiangani challenged participants to look beyond refugees’ needs and consider their potential contribution to Kenya’s development, reinforcing the importance of inclusion, self-reliance, resilience and shared development.

Tamrat Getahun, Representing VNG International urged participants to move from working for refugees and host communities to working with them. And GIZ Program Manager Bessy Thuranira encouraged graduates to look beyond and consider how Kenya can respond differently to the changing refugee management environment.

Senior Advocacy Officer at the IRC, Edna Wasonga, noted that feedback from previous cohorts had indicated improvements in refugee service delivery and called for stronger cooperation among Nairobi, Turkana and Garissa counties.

Course Coordinator Sylvan Odidi said that KSG and development partners plan follow-up mechanisms to support implementation of participants action plans for application at their work stations.  

The successful completion of Cohort III reinforces commitment to strengthening public sector capacity and supporting effective and sustainable refugee governance in Kenya.