NAIROBI, Kenya – The government says that the process of repatriating Somali refugees from the Dadaab camp in North Eastern Kenya may take approximately two years.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday, Deputy President William Ruto indicated that measures, including provision of security from Al Shabaab militia, were being undertaken to ensure a smooth passage for the refugees.

He observed that between 80,000 and 100,000 refugees had already travelled to Somalia voluntarily and urged the Somali government to put infrastructure and social amenities in place to accommodate the populace.

“More refugees will voluntarily want to go back home. The tri-partite agreement between UNHCR, the government of Kenya and The Federal Government of Somalia will again provide additional momentum in facilitating the safe return of refugees to Somalia. We are looking at a process that is expected to take up to two years,” the DP stated.

“I once went to a place called Chalbi Desert in Kenya and I met a friend of mine who later became an MP for that area and he had gone to school in America. When I went to Chalbi Desert I was wondering why anyone would want to stay in the desert so I asked him what made him leave America to come back here after he had found a home,” he narrated when asked whether it was too soon to start sending the refugees home.

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