Curfew imposed at Kakuma Refugee Camp after protests

A 6pm to 7am curfew has been effected at Kakuma Refugee Camp and security patrols intensified following recent protests.

The move, authorities say, is part of measures to maintain peace and order after sustained protests over scarcity of food and water.

The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday confirmed that the protests had exacerbated the humanitarian crisis at both Kakuma and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement with critical health, water provision and food distribution services to more vulnerable refugees interrupted.

Deputy Camp Manager Sylvester Kuya said that no movement will be allowed inside or outside the camp and settlement during curfew hours.

"Violation of this order will result in detention with exceptions reserved for medical emergencies and authorised personnel," Mr Kuya said.

Mr Nanduri Sateesh, Head of Kakuma sub-office at UNHCR-Kenya, said that when the refugees first demonstrated on Friday last week, their representatives presented their petition for necessary action.

However, he said, protests continued despite UNHCR trying to address their demands, thus interrupting restoration of three critical boreholes to stabilise water distribution as movement of staff was blocked.

"If you have to protest, do it peacefully so that you won't interrupt services like learning activities, repairing boreholes, distribution of food by the World Food Programme, and access to healthcare services. The solution can't be gotten in a day. We will consult with 53 partners working to ensure all 300,000 refugees and host community receive the basic services to address the issues raised," he said.

On the issue of poor health services at camp hospitals, he said missing drugs are at the procurement stage and that all facilities will be stocked with essential drugs and medical supplies in the next three weeks.

Mr Sateesh also linked the protests to misinformation and promised to hold public sensitisation forums for help refugees better understand what is going on.

"Shirika plan has not come to force refugees to be Kenyans. It's all about the socio-economic inclusion of refugees where all services that are available in the 55 schools, 24 boreholes, and 27 clinics will be integrated and not stopped," he said.

On February 28, 2025, and March 3, 2025, refugees stormed Kakuma Town in Turkana West to protest over scarcity of food and water.

The refugees consisting different nationalities including South Sudanese, Somalis, Ethiopians, Congolese and Rwandans, took to the streets as early as 7am.

"We are given only three kilogrammes of cereal per month, which is not enough. When we came to seek answers from UNHCR on Friday, no one was willing to address us. We are suffering in Kakuma," Ms Rita Namrembe, a refugee, said.

She said women are suffering more because water and food are scarce, noting that orphans, widows and the elderly are also among the worst hit.

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