(NAKURU) – The South Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Anthony Kon, met with members of the South Sudanese community in Nakuru County on 8 July 2025 in a wide ranging dialogue that addressed youth empowerment, education access, immigration challenges, and refugee concerns. The meeting was held at 4:00 p.m. and opened with prayers led by local clergy.
Attendees included students, elders, religious leaders, and refugee representatives who used the platform to highlight pressing issues affecting South Sudanese nationals in Kenya. Student voices were prominent in the discussions, with Ms. Achai Kuol Nyok of Sean Paul University urging the Embassy to support youth focused programmes, including sports initiatives, to reduce vulnerability to crime and drugs.
She also raised concerns over the high cost and difficulty of renewing travel documents, which requires students to travel to Nairobi. Additionally, she called on the Embassy to ensure that scholarship opportunities are open to all South Sudanese, including those studying in Kenya, and not only to those educated in South Sudan. Ms. Achai concluded by emphasising the importance of empowering young women, pointing to her own journey as evidence of what South Sudanese girls can achieve.
A representative from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the need for Embassy facilitated internship placements and pointing to recurring border issues affecting students.
Responding to these concerns, the Embassy’s Education Attaché, Mary Peter, clarified that Kenya has not provided direct scholarships to South Sudanese nationals. However, the Embassy does receive scholarship offers from partner countries, which are awarded on a first come, first served basis. She encouraged early applications for internship opportunities available at the Embassy. Regarding certificates of good conduct, which are typically issued in Juba, she noted that efforts are underway to explore local alternatives for South Sudanese citizens in Kenya.
On the issue of travel documentation, Mr. Mabouc Taban, Head of the Immigration Department at the Embassy, acknowledged the difficulties faced by South Sudanese youth, especially those participating in sports events. He advised individuals and teams to work with community leaders when submitting group applications for passports and stressed the importance of early planning.
Ambassador Kon informed the gathering that a formal request for an additional 1,500 passport booklets has been submitted to South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior to ease access to documentation for citizens in Kenya. Furthermore, he confirmed that he has written to the Ministry of Higher Education, advocating for inclusive scholarship policies that cover students living and studying in Kenya.
Representatives from Kakuma Refugee Camp, including Mr. Mayen Manyuon and Mr. Agustino Loro, raised concerns about the proposed “Sherika Plan.” They feared that integrating South Sudanese refugees into host communities would jeopardise essential services provided by the UNHCR, such as food rations, educational support, and third country resettlement programmes. They also voiced frustrations over high performing students in the camp being left out of scholarship lists under this integration policy.
Ambassador Kon reassured them that their concerns had been documented and communicated to the relevant government bodies, and that appropriate follow-up would be pursued.
Elders present at the meeting also highlighted serious issues, including extortion and harassment at border points, even for travellers carrying valid documents. They requested the Embassy’s intervention, called for increased internship opportunities with Kenyan institutions, and proposed that Friday working hours at the Embassy be extended to accommodate those employed during the week.
In his final remarks, Ambassador Kon thanked the community for their openness and participation. He pledged to compile all the grievances and suggestions into a comprehensive report that would inform future decisions and services offered by the Embassy. The meeting ended with a shared commitment to strengthen community ties and advocate for the needs of the South Sudanese diaspora in Nakuru and throughout Kenya.
Key Issues Raised and Embassy Responses
| Issue Raised | Response from Embassy |
|---|---|
| Lack of youth empowerment programmes | Embassy to advocate for more sports and youth-focused initiatives |
| Difficulty in renewing travel documents | Request submitted for 1,500 new passport booklets; group applications encouraged |
| Scholarships limited to students from South Sudan | Advocacy underway for inclusion of Kenya-based South Sudanese students |
| Border harassment and extortion | Concerns acknowledged; further engagement planned with relevant authorities |
| Refugee integration fears (Sherika Plan) | Issues raised with South Sudanese and international agencies |
| Internship opportunities | Embassy internships open to all applicants; partnerships being explored |
| Certificate of Good Conduct access in Kenya | Exploring ways to issue the documents locally to ease access |
| Limited Embassy service hours | Request made for longer Friday hours under consideration |
