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| The Dadaab camp established in 1991 was declared full in 2008 but refugees have been arriving in their thousands |
Prime Minister Raila Odinga Sunday morning held talks with British Minister for International Development Mr Andrew Mitchell who visited him at home in Karen.
The talks focused on the refugee crisis in northern Kenya and the food and drought in the Horn of Africa.
During the talks, attended also by British High Commissioner to Kenya Mr Rob Mcaire, the PM renewed calls the international community to engage more meaningfully in the situation in northern Kenya.
The PM particularly called on the international community to start feeding programs on the Somali side of the border to ensure those lacking food don't have to cross into Kenya to get it.
Mr Odinga said the Somalis currently crossing into Kenya are running away from hunger, not insecurity and starting a feeding programme in Somalia would make a big difference.
The PM thanked the UK and US for their response to the crisis so far, and asked other nations to join the operation in the Horn of Africa.
Food security
On food, the PM asked the UK and other nations to help Kenya build its food basket, acknowledging that the country is currently fire fighting.
He said the grand coalition government had embarked on restoring irrigation schemes that collapsed many years ago and is also building dams as a way of ensuring food security.
He said the restoration of the irrigation schemes have exposed the lack of capacity by the country to store its harvest safely and called for support with the construction of storage facilities and expansion of irrigation schemes nationwide.
In response, Mr Mitchell said the UK is ready to support programs that would ensure food security in the country and asked the government to submit a proposal.
He said the UK has already set aside substantial amounts of money to help Kenya go through the current drought, but observed that the only sure security is for the country to be able to produce enough food, a programme he said Britain is ready to support.
He thanked the government of Kenya for agreeing to open the IFO II camp in Daadab saying it was an act of kindness for which the international community should support Kenya in appreciation.
FPE funds
The two leaders also discussed the continuing row over the Free Primary Education Funds, agreeing that the matter needs to be brought to a closure, with every shilling accounted for.
Turning to upcoming elections, the two leaders observed that with 2007 events still fresh in the minds of Kenyans and the international community, Kenya needed to put in place a team of credible people to manage the 2012 elections.
Mr Odinga said there is no shortage of credible people to manage elections, promising that the team the government puts together will be convincing and trustworthy.
On the date of elections, Mr Odinga said there are differences on interpretation of the law, but expressed hope that the Supreme Court will soon give directions on the matter.
Mr Mitchell said the date needs to be known in good time to enable the country and the international community prepare and support Kenya.
He said the international community is waiting for the next election with tremendous interest, given the experiences of 2007/2008.
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