Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri is urging the United Nations to help in the relocation of Somalis back to their country. Ongeri said Kenya has accommodated refugees at the Dadaab camp for 22 years.

He was speaking during the commemoration of United Nations Day in Nairobi. "Dadaab camp has the highest settlement amounting to 640,000 foreigners most of them originating from Somalia," Ongeri said.

He said since Somalia has been liberated, the refugees should go back to their home land. "Our soldiers have done a great job and the Kenyan government should be relieved off this burden," he said.

UNEP executive director Achim Steiner expressed his concerns on the forthcoming elections saying Kenya is yet to recover from the 2007/08 post-election violence.

"We all have our worries regarding the elections. It is a moment of extra-ordinary excitement and the government should ensure the nation will be an example of democracy in the region," he said.

During the event, a UN award went to Isaac Abdullahi who is the chairman of Gudliye Farming Group in Dadaab. Ongeri congratulated the group for making "a desert flourish with crop".

The group, which was established in 1995 with a membership of 16 people, now has 160 registered members. During his acceptance remarks, Isaac said the area is fertile but faces challenges such as lack of water and modern equipment. First runners up wen to Lydia Njuguna who is a campaigner against gross abuses to children living with disabilities.