Several Refugees Shot During Protest at Kakuma Refugee Camp
There is no food, no water, and now they want to integrate us without a proper plan,” said David Nyawan, a South Sudanese refugee
Several refugees at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County have been shot and injured by police officers following a two-day protest over food shortages, water scarcity, insecurity, and fears of forced integration.
The demonstrations, which took place at Kakuma Refugee Camp, escalated into violent confrontations when security forces moved to disperse the crowd.
According to eyewitnesses, tensions flared when refugees attempted to engage UNHCR officials over concerns about reduced food rations and inadequate water supply. “We have been suffering for too long. There is no food, no water, and now they want to integrate us without a proper plan,” said David Nyawan, a South Sudanese refugee who has lived in the camp for over a decade. “When we protested peacefully, the police responded with bullets.”
Among those injured was a South Sudanese refugee who, alongside two others, sustained serious gunshot wounds. Rights groups and humanitarian organizations have condemned the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters, calling for an immediate investigation into the matter. “It is unacceptable for security forces to use excessive force against vulnerable populations who are simply voicing their grievances,” said a spokesperson from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
The protests were triggered by mounting frustrations over worsening conditions in the camp, including reductions in food rations and an ongoing push for refugee integration. The Kenyan government and UNHCR have been advocating for policies aimed at integrating refugees into local communities to ease the pressure on humanitarian resources. However, many refugees fear that integration will lead to loss of support from aid organizations and increased hostility from host communities.
Image by Jamal Karim
The debate over refugee integration in Kenya has been ongoing for years. Various approaches have been suggested, including policies that would allow refugees to engage in income-generating activities and contribute to local economies. Institutions such as the World Bank have promoted strategies aimed at collective poverty reduction, supporting both refugees and host communities. However, humanitarian funding continues to be largely directed towards displaced populations rather than long-term development solutions.
For over 25 years, Kakuma Refugee Camp has been home to more than 150,000 refugees from 18 different countries. Its prolonged existence has created inequalities in infrastructure and economic opportunities, often to the detriment of the host community. In an effort to address this imbalance, the Turkana County Government entered into an agreement with UNHCR to enhance investment in shared resources and development projects. The agreement seeks to improve conditions for both refugees and locals, but concerns remain about the practical implementation of these policies.
Human rights organizations have urged the Kenyan government and UNHCR to address the grievances of refugees in Kakuma, warning that continued neglect could lead to further unrest. “A sustainable solution requires genuine dialogue with the refugee communities to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed,” said, an advocacy officer at Amnesty International Kenya.
As investigations into the shooting incidents continue, refugees are calling for urgent intervention to improve living conditions and ensure their safety within the camp. Meanwhile, UNHCR has yet to issue an official statement regarding the protests and the subsequent use of force by security personnel
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