Prof Benjamin Sango

Co-founder & Executive Director, L’AFEIKANA Kenya & Canada
Humanitarian Systems Leader | Refugee Policy Advocate | Localization Strategist

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

My message: participation begins with access. How can refugees participate when documentation and travel documents remain barriers?
If Kenya is serious about refugee inclusion through the #ShirikaPlan, refugees must be included in government structures and decision-making spaces.

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

In the system where those advocating for #Meaningfullrefugeeparticipation end up being the one participating with délégation of more people and none of refugee in their delegation Will keeps undermine broader spirit of #Localizition
We call for moving together, as #Refugees lead

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

As L’Afrikana, we are proud to lead a team analysing the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 2023 pledges and the participation of refugees, with the aim of proposing priorities for GRF 2027.

But meaningful refugee participation demands more than language in reports and statements.

We continue to see organizations advocating for meaningful refugee participation becoming regular participants in the very rooms where decisions are made for refugees, while their own delegations sometimes do not include even one refugee voice.

This contradiction must be confronted.

If refugees are expected to shape the decisions that affect their lives, they must be represented where those decisions are made.

GRF 2027 should move us from speaking about refugee participation to practicing it.

Nothing about refugees without refugees at the table.

#GRF2027 #RefugeeParticipation #RefugeeLeadership #Localization #RefugeeLed

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

I’m sharing Felicien’s story because he should not have to keep fighting alone after surviving a serious shooting.
Months later, he is still facing medical, and protection challenges, while seeking accountability.
Please amplify his case and help us reach those who can act.

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

🚨 Felicien needs help.

A Burundian refugee in Nairobi, Kenya, Felicien survived a serious gunshot injury in March 2025. He underwent emergency surgery costing more than KES 500,000 ( thanks for @_shakenya for taking care of more than 80%). He continues to face medical, livelihood and protection challenges.

After months of seeking assistance and accountability, from @UNHCR_Kenya, @DCI_Kenya, @IPOA_KE, @RCKKenya and @DRSKenya his situation remains unresolved.

L’AFRIKANA is calling on @UNHCR_Kenya , @IPOA_KE , @DRSKenya , @DCI_Kenya protection actors, legal aid organisations and humanitarian partners to help secure a coordinated response.

Felicien needs more than a referral. He needs action.

Please amplify his story and help us reach those who can assist.

#JusticeForFelicien #RefugeeProtection #RefugeeRights #Lafrikanа #HumanRights

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

I’m deeply grateful for this powerful gesture of solidarity. At a difficult moment for refugee and migrant communities, having members of the Judiciary come to ASEC and listen to our concerns meant a great deal.

#RefugeeRights #JusticeForAll #Solidarity

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

A meaningful moment of solidarity at Amani Social Education Centre. We thank Hon. Justice Kizito and Hon. Justice Monica Mbaru, Principal Judge, for standing with refugees and migrants and reminding our communities: “They are protected by the courts.” 🤝🏾🇰🇪

#JusticeForAll #RLosk

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

The slaves of your country got you out of your country like “Gari ya Mira” and now you got angels eyes to see buffoons. By the way, when are you going back to Kenya? Or you’re still busy enjoying refugee protection?

[Dr. Miguna Miguna @MigunaMiguna]

This fat Congolese buffoon is without shame—together with @HHichilema and other grovelling African slaves.

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

🏆 Talent needs opportunity to shine.

Diana, Kavira & Jeff (beneficiaries of L’Afrikana scholarship since 2024) travelled from Kenya to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the TRESHA Africa Awards and returned as winners.

Their achievement shows what happens when young people are given a chance, support and a platform.

Through PEP, L’Afrikana invests in that potential.

Invest in talent. Open doors. Leave a legacy.

#LAFRIKANA #PEP #YouthTalent #RefugeeLed #InvestInYouth #LocalLeadership

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

Education is the Key
#education

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

Through L’Afrikana’s PEP, young people from refugee and vulnerable communities get the chance to learn, grow and show what they can do.

Diana and Kavira are beneficiaries of L’Afrikana’s PEP (Scholarship & Education Support Program). Through their talent, dedication, and hard work, they successfully passed the Afrik Nasaha auditions and earned an opportunity to represent their community at the TRESHA Afrika Awards competition in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

They were initially at risk of missing the opportunity because of the cost of travel and accommodation, but support from Well Wishers made their journey possible.

Their story shows what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to turn talent into possibility.

Diana & Kavira remind us: when opportunity meets talent, dreams can travel far.

Invest in a child. Unlock talent. Build a legacy.

#LAFRIKANA #PEP #Education #RefugeeEducation #InvestInYouth

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Talk To Talk Forum 2026 is changing the way partnership happens.

We’re moving from one-off conversations to continuous, community-led dialogue that connects refugee-led organizations with decision-makers, donors and partners.

Investing in Talk To Talk means investing in local leadership, stronger partnerships and solutions that can last.

Less talking for communities. More talking with communities. More action alongside them.

#TalkToTalkForum2026 #RefugeeLed #Localization #Partnerships #LocalLeadership #Lafrikana

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

Some days leave me inspired. Others leave me thinking.

Every day, I meet parents fighting to educate their children, young people searching for dignified work, women determined to build businesses, and families simply looking for someone who will listen.
#wecan

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Every day, our community comes to us with hope.

Parents seek education for their children. Young people look for livelihoods. Women want opportunities to grow their businesses. Families need protection, guidance, and a path to self-reliance.

L’Afrikana is on the frontline, but the need is greater than our resources.

Partner with us to turn local solutions into lasting impact.

#Lafrikana #Localization #RefugeeLed #SocialImpact #Partnerships #LocalLeadership #LastingSolutions

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

When the community leads the solution, this is what happened 👌 Thank you @org_refugeeled for leading the change for 15 years.

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Every day at L’Afrikana, lives are changing.

Children stay in school. Women build businesses through #LAFRICOOP. Families access protection and essential services. Refugees and host communities create solutions together.

Partner with us and invest in a future where local leadership delivers lasting impact.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0729 381 142

#RefugeeLed #Localization #SocialImpact #WomenEmpowerment #Education #CommunityDevelopment #Lafrikana #LeaveALegacy

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

@citizentvkenya Sometimes argue like a leaned editor. Which empathy did you show ?

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

Proud to have completed the RLRH Foundations: Refugee and Forced Migration Studies course, delivered by the Refugee-Led Research Hub and the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre.

This learning journey deepened my understanding of forced displacement, refugee rights, durable solutions, and the role of refugee-led organizations in shaping policy and practice.

As a refugee leader, I remain committed to advancing protection, inclusion, self-reliance, and meaningful participation for displaced communities.

#Refugees #ForcedMigration #RefugeeLeadership #RLOs #OxfordUniversity #RLRH #HumanitarianAction #LAfrikana

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

@org_refugeeled Many thanks for organizing

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

I’m going to @org_refugeeled’s upcoming Space. Will you join too? https://t.co/YDAfcpvesd

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

I’ve seen what happens when access is closed and what’s possible when it opens.

That’s why I’m backing #TalkToTalk.

The Secretariat is operational.
100 refugee-led organizations are being engaged.
This is real progress.

Now we need partners to step in and scale it.

If you believe in localization, this is where it becomes real.

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Organizations that believe in #Localization and real partnership should support #TalkToTalk.

The Secretariat is operational.
100 refugee-led organizations are being engaged.
The platform is moving from vision → action.

Now we need partners to scale it.

Support the Forum. Strengthen the system.

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

Honored to present a group reflection at the validation workshop of the Inclusive Employment Opportunities Assessment by @BrighterMonKE & @MastercardFdn

Key insight:
The issue isn’t lack of talent ; it’s weak job matching, low job readiness, and unstructured hiring systems.

📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

#InclusiveEmployment #Kenya #FutureOfWork

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

@FatimaMCole Welcome to Kenya 🇰🇪 and congratulations on your appointment. As you begin this role, urban refugees are facing urgent challenges, limited access to documentation and services, constrained livelihoods, disruptions in education, protection risks, and gaps in clear communication. Addressing these requires restoring accessible service delivery and working more closely with refugee-led actors.

At #LAfrikana, we bring strong community trust and on-the-ground experience, and we stand ready to collaborate in delivering practical, inclusive solutions that strengthen access, protection, and dignity.

[UNHCR KENYA @UNHCR_Kenya]

Today, @FatimaMCole presented her credentials as UNHCR Representative in Kenya.

UNHCR Kenya looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Kenya, counties and partners to protect and support refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities.

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

Documents aren’t paperwork for refugees, they’re life.

Since the UNHCR–DRS service center closed and the move to Upper Hill isn’t yet operational, families face delays in documents process, protection, and higher risk.

Transitions happen, but access must not stop.

#RefugeeProtection #Kenya #AccessToServices #RefugeeLed

[L'AFRIKANA ORG @org_refugeeled]

Meet Louis, a refugee mother, spent months trying to get a birth certificate for her child, moving from office to office with no success.

Then she reached L’Afrikana.

Within 1 week, her child’s birth certificate was ready.

This is more than a document.
It’s identity. Protection. A future.

Many are still waiting.

Support solutions that work.

#RefugeeProtection #BirthRegistration #ChildRights #RefugeeLed #Kenya #AccessToServices

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

@elonmusk Why many of you are against migration and yet you ware migrants at first?
None choose to be migrants but it happened. It’s better to put humanity first , and stop buying cobalt from people who are forcing migrants to leave in eastern #DRC.

[Prof Benjamin Sango @benjam11034]

🧵 One refugee in the room does NOT mean refugees are represented.
It’s a pattern we’ve normalized for too long: one seat, one voice, one token while thousands remain unheard.
This isn’t participation.
It’s performance.
Different realities. Different needs. Different priorities.
Urban ≠ Camp. Youth ≠ Women. Professionals ≠ Persons with disabilities.
Real participation looks different:
✅ Multiple refugee-led organizations at the table
✅ Representation across gender, geography & lived realities
✅ Transparent access, not just faces
✅ Shared power — not just presence
✅ Voices that actually influence decisions
We cannot design effective solutions for people we’re not truly listening to.
It’s time for the shift:
From representation → to participation
From presence → to power
From consultation → to co-leadership
Refugees are not a sidenote.
We are the story.
Demand better structures. Demand justice.
No more tokenism.
#RefugeeVoicesMatter #RealParticipation #EndTokenism #VoicesDignityPower