By Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Kenya has long hosted displaced people on the African continent, sheltering hundreds of
thousands of refugees and asylum seekers at Dadaab, Kakuma, and in urban centers across
the country.
In a recent interview with the correspondent of the Communications Network for Catholic
Sisters (CNCS), Sr. Mercy Mwayi, the Executive Director of Talitha Kum Kenya,
encouraged the Church to move beyond humanitarian assistance and embrace a more
comprehensive approach that accompanies refugees and migrants, protects their dignity, and
empowers them towards self-reliance and sustainable integration in society.
Sr. Mwayi, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, said the Church has an
important role to play in ensuring that refugees and migrants are not only welcomed but also
supported to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Having served in the Talitha Kum office for two years, the Kenyan nun pointed out that
welcoming refugees and migrants with dignity should remain at the heart of the Church’s
response.
She emphasized the need for the Church to provide psychosocial support through
counselling, education, affordable healthcare, spiritual activities and safe spaces where
refugees and migrants can find healing, encouragement and support.
According to Sr. Mwayi, empowering refugees and migrants economically is equally
important in helping them move from dependence on humanitarian assistance towards self-
reliance. She proposed providing business start-up capital through sub-grants and connecting
refugees and migrants to employment opportunities within Church institutions.
She also called for stronger legal and referral services to help refugees and migrants
understand issues relating to asylum, documentation and access to public services.
“Protection from trafficking and exploitation must also be strengthened,” she noted, stressing
the importance of awareness forums that equip refugees and migrants with information about
their rights and the risks they face.
The Church, she added, should advocate for policies that promote safe migration, access to
proper documentation, protection from trafficking, education and decent work.
Beyond material and legal support, the Executive Director of Talitha Kum Kenya highlighted
the importance of social and community integration. She suggested sports, intercultural
activities and support groups as avenues through which refugees, migrants and host
communities can interact, build relationships and address xenophobia and discrimination.
Sr. Mwayi also identified several pressing challenges affecting refugees and migrants in
Kenya. She raised concern over their safety and protection, particularly allegations of cartels
controlling refugee camps, which can expose vulnerable populations to exploitation and
insecurity.
Unemployment was another challenge, where she noted that without opportunities to earn a
decent income, refugees and migrants can remain dependent on humanitarian assistance for
extended periods. Family separation also continues to affect displaced populations, while
discrimination and xenophobia also make integration into host communities more difficult.
Sr. Mwayi further pointed to climate change and food insecurity as emerging concerns that
can deepen the vulnerability of already-displaced populations. She stressed the need for
people to see refugees and migrants not just as recipients of aid but as people with dignity,
abilities, aspirations, and contributions they make in society.