Kakuma (Kenya) : hunger and despair fuel insecurity

SOS Médias Burundi

Kakuma, November 3, 2025 – The Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya is facing a surge in banditry. This comes as the Kenyan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have introduced a new social categorization of refugees, restricting access to humanitarian aid to certain categories deemed more vulnerable.

Gunshots rang out overnight from Thursday to Friday in the Kakuma II area. According to several sources, police were pursuing a group of armed bandits who had just broken into a shop belonging to a refugee.

Growing insecurity

Residents say that cases of theft and assault have been increasing for several months, both in Kakuma and its extension, Kalobeyei.

“Thieves mainly take shop items, clothes, kitchen utensils, gas cylinders, and food,” says a Burundian refugee, himself a victim of a burglary.

“They broke through the back wall of my house and took everything. Even my children’s notebooks are gone,” he adds.

Reduced aid to blame

According to several refugees, this growing insecurity is linked to the reduction of food rations and the new categorization system introduced last June by Kenyan authorities and the UNHCR.
This system classifies refugees according to their level of vulnerability : only those in categories 1 and 2, considered the most vulnerable, now receive full assistance. Categories 3 and 4, considered less vulnerable, are seeing their aid significantly reduced, or even suspended.

“Theft in households has become a daily danger. Many of those who no longer receive assistance have no other choice,” explains a community representative.

“We are asking the UNHCR to review its classification and provide equal assistance to everyone, because we are all destitute refugees,” he adds.

Authorities promise sanctions

The local police and administration are calling on refugees to remain calm and strongly condemn the acts of banditry.

They promise strict measures to restore security in the camp.

“Exemplary sanctions will be imposed on suspects and criminals in order to stabilize the camp,” security officials stated.

A camp under tension

The Kakuma complex and its extension in Kalobeyei currently host more than 250,000 refugees, including approximately 25,000 Burundians. But dwindling humanitarian aid, coupled with a lack of economic opportunities, is fueling a sense of injustice and frustration that threatens the stability of this vast camp located in an already fragile region.