According to africanews.com, police fired live rounds at protesters Monday as widespread protests shook security in the Kakuma refugee camp in northwest Kenya.
Due to financial limitations, thousands of refugees at the Kakuma camp demonstrated Monday against food rationing. At least four people being shot in the clash. Amnesty International estimates that about 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers reside in the camp, which is among the biggest in the world. The camp houses those escaping conflict and drought in neighboring South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Congo.
The shortages coincide with a reduction in humanitarian help in Kenya as a result of financial cuts made by USAID, the US Agency for International Development.
Lack of USAID Funding May Lead to Hunger or Even Worse
Food supplies to refugee camps were “at 45 percent of the minimum food basket due to resource constraints” in December of last year, according to the World Food Program, which oversees food distribution at the camps. Due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s cuts in foreign aid, the World Food Program said Monday that it is closing its office in South Africa. The WFP has been warning for years that it is experiencing gaps in the contributions from governments that it depends on for funding.
Kenya Police crack down on Kakuma Refugee Camp protests, injuring and killing demonstrators.
Police killed demonstrating refugees at Kakuma Refugee Camp.
“The protest, led by refugees (mostly women), remained peaceful until the police intervened, escalating the situation.” pic.twitter.com/5FwFN53o4Y
— South Sudan Global – SSG (@SSGglobal) March 3, 2025
Mama Kayembe, a Congolese refugee at Kakuma Refugee Camp, stated: “Kenyans have placed all the responsibility on Donald Trump since he became president of the United States. Trump is being blamed for workers’ unpaid wages. Trump is to blame for everything, including the lack of medication in the hospital and the fact that we now have to pay for school tuition. We’re sick of Trump.
In addition to causing hunger, the aid restrictions have also increased insecurity in the camp. In the absence of alternate financial sources, there are worries that things in the camp might get even worse.
In contrast to the former system of donor-dependent refugee camps, Kenya is gradually moving refugees into integrated communities and has officially gazetted Kakuma and Dadaab as municipalities.
