Innovative projects in Kalobeyei impact lives of refugee and host communities

The Natukobenyo fresh vegetable market, run by refugee and host communities, is just one of the various projects funded by the European Union in Turkana West.

Celestine Eto is a greengrocer in the new Natukobenyo fresh vegetable market in village one of Kalobeyei settlement. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno

By Samuel Odhiambo, Kalobeyei Settlement, Turkana  |  29 Jan 2020

Celestine Eto, from DR Congo, walks through a vegetable farm in Kalobeyei settlement picking only the best eggplants, while enjoying short spontaneous conversations with men and women from different nationalities including Kenyans. She buys fresh vegetables to sell, from the farm that is tended by farmers from refugee and the host communities.

 

Celestine Eto is a greengrocer in the new Natukobenyo fresh vegetable market in village one of Kalobeyei settlement. ©UNHCR/Samuel Otieno

Celestine is a greengrocer in the new Natukobenyo fresh vegetable market in village one of Kalobeyei settlement. Refugees and Kenyans alike share the modern market infrastructure which is equipped with a cool room that uses charcoal and water to keep products fresh for a couple of days.

“I previously ran a similar business in a makeshift stall in the neighbourhood and my vegetables would wither or spoil very quickly because of the hot weather in Kalobeyei,” Celestine says. “I really like this new market which has a shared cool room which helps keep my vegetables fresh for longer.”

We need loans to grow our businesses

The Natukobenyo fresh vegetable market, run by refugee and host communities, is just one of the various projects funded by the European Union in Turkana West.  For Celestine and other traders in the market, this gives a steady income for her family, and an opportunity to thrive.

“I want to be a big entrepreneur and run a big grocery business but that requires access to capital.  We need loans to grow our businesses,” she adds.

In December 2019, European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, visited Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement to meet with refugees and Kenyans who are benefitting from EU funded projects in Turkana West.

EU Commisisoner for Partneship interacts with one of the traders in the new Fresh Vegetable Market in Kalobeyei Village 1

EU Commisisoner for Partnership, Jutta Urpilainen interacts with one of the traders in the new Fresh Vegetable Market in Kalobeyei Village 1. ©UNHCR/Amina Rwimo

EU Commissioner for International Partnership speaks Girls at AJ School

EU Commissioner for International Partnership speaks Girls at Angelina Jolie School. ©UNHCR/Amina Rwimo

EU Commissioner for International Partnership pose for a photo with Girls from Angelina Jolie and Morneau Shepelle at AJ School

EU Commissioner for International Partnership pose for a photo with Girls from Angelina Jolie and Morneau Shepelle at Angelina Jolie School. ©UNHCR/Amina Rwimo

The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Head of EU Delegation in Kenya, Ambassador Simon Mordue, commended the implementation of KISEDP.

One of the other refugee families that have benefitted from EU supported projects is John Lokulu and his family of six.   John fled South Sudan in 2016 and was allocated a transitional shelter by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Nearly two years after arriving in Kalobeyei, John has constructed a permanent house for his family through UNHCR’s Cash Based Intervention (CBI) programme.

“My house is beautiful. I came up with the design and got a good mason from the Turkana host community to build it,” says John. “UNHCR trained us on how to manage the construction process and we were able to negotiate with suppliers for the best prices and made savings.”

ohn Lokulu, from South Sudan is one of the refugees living in Kalobeyei that have successfully constructed permanent house for his family of six through UNHCR’s Cash Based Intervention (CBI) programme. He interacts with EU Commissioner for Partnership, Jutta Urpilainen during her visit in December 2019. ©UNHCR/Amina Rwimo

John and almost 1,500 other families in Kalobeyei have been empowered to manage the construction of their own permanent houses as part of the implementation of the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Plan (KISEDP) which aims at promoting socio-economic integration.

Speaking during her visit, Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen praised the impact of the projects.

“The whole infrastructure which is providing wellness and hope for the people is very impressive. I really hope that we can learn and use this knowledge which you have provided here to be part of the Africa Strategy.”