Exploring refugee and host community conflicts in subsaharan Africa : a case study of Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya

Abstract

This study explored refugee and host community conflicts in East Africa using a case of Kakuma Refugee Camp which is located in Turkana County, North West parts of Kenya. The study used a number of factors believed to cause frequent refugees and host community conflicts and the factors were categorized into four main factors, namely; political and security, limited resources, social welfare and socio-cultural factors. It was found out that in Kakuma refugee camp, access to water, wood, land, and livestock theft were the major causes of conflict frequently witnessed in the area. The results generally found out that the frequent witnessed conflicts are caused by; first, by the local community who feels that refugees are more economically advantaged due to the assistance they receive from refugees aid organizations and some refugees own various businesses in the camp. Second, it caused by competition as a result of the limited resources in the impoverished semi-arid where the refugees and host community lives. Third, refugees’ population has outnumbered that of the local community and this has created tension since things are running out of host community hands. Therefore, this study recommends that in order to foster a better coexistence between the refugees and host community, refugees’ agencies must include the host community in programs such as provision of food supplies, as well as reducing the high numbers of refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp in order to minimize insecurity and support the meagre available local resources