Week 2 of advocating for the economic inclusion of refugees in Kitengela, Kajiado County has taken an extremely positive step as we engaged the County Government, Local administration, Sub-county administration, and security representatives. Access to business permits, high cost of permits, security of refugee businesses are among the issues addressed in this week's forums. With this turn of events, the future of refugees engaging in income-generating activities in Kitengela is bright.

This week, we commence an 8 - week advocacy program in Kitengela, advocating for the economic inclusion of refugees in Kitengela. We bring together stakeholders, among them the County Government, Local administration, refugees as well as host business community among other stakeholders. We are optimistic that this is a single step towards a long journey that will see a reduction in "market" barriers resulting in economic freedom and financial independence of refugees. All this courtesy of our partner @PamojaTrust

The year 2024 has not been a "walk in the park" for most Refugee-led Organizations. With limited resources and zero funding in some locations, RLOs who are first responders to challenges facing refugees have had to come up with extra- ordinary measures to sustain their obligations in their communities. The change in times and circumstances has led to the establishment of Kitengela RLOs Network, a network of 9 RLOs, all empowering refugees and host community in Kitengela. So far, the network has undertaken 3 successful activities, with the latest being a peer-to-peer learning session funded and facilitated by Pamoja Trust. The session on Leadership and Governance was attended by 35 leaders representing 9 RLOs. The network's approach is based on partnerships, internal network fundraising, and resource mobilization, which has led to successful interventions. Though the approach may appear complex, it has not only reduced strain on RLOs but also maintained their relevance in the community. We believe that if this approach is nurtured, it will enhance accountability, reduce challenges in programming, enhance collaboration among RLOs, and also boost trust between RLOs and communities.

Today, our SLA members had an interactive session with our partners IRC and Equity Bank. From the discussion, it is evident that Refugee-led SLAs have the potential to pool together resources in the form of savings and lend to members at affordable terms. This approach, if embraced will enhance financial inclusion resulting in the economic independence of refugees. Developing a culture of saving will also enhance personal financial growth and readiness for emergency financial needs.

In preparation for an expansive digital skills training program for refugee and host community youth in Kitengela, our team spent part of the day setting up computers, upgrading the internet, and enhancing physical safety of our community digital space. This will guarantee the delivery of quality skills in a safe space