New Support Launched to Help Refugees in Kenya Recover Vital Identity Documents
Kakuma, 17 July 2026
The UN Refugee Agency and Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services have launched urgent guidance to help Kakuma refugees retrieve lost registration documents and collect pending identity cards.
Steps to Retrieve Lost Registration Documents
For refugees living in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements who have lost their proof of registration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided specific channels to get help [1]. If you lose your registration papers, or if you have any urgent questions, you can contact the UNHCR helpline immediately [1]. You can reach them by calling the toll-free telephone number 1517, which does not cost any money to call [1]. Alternatively, you can send an email to helpline.kenya@unhcr.org to request assistance with your lost documents [1].
The Importance of Valid Documentation
Having these documents is very important for refugees in Kenya to access basic services and receive legal protection [1][3]. The Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements face ongoing humanitarian and development challenges, such as limited access to jobs and heavy strain on public services [3]. Because of these difficulties, keeping your registration documents up to date is essential to make sure you can get food, healthcare, and other vital support [1][3].
How to Collect Your Pending Refugee ID Card
If you have already applied for a Refugee Identity (ID) card, you must visit the Department of Refugee Services (DRS) office in your area to check its status [1]. The DRS is the government department responsible for processing asylum applications and issuing official ID cards to refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya [1]. When your card is ready, you will be able to collect it directly from the local office where you made your application [1].
Finding Your Nearest DRS Office
The DRS operates several offices across Kenya to make sure services are close to where refugees live [1]. If you are in the Kakuma region, you can visit the local Kakuma DRS office [1]. For refugees in other areas, the DRS also has offices in Dadaab, Mombasa (opposite St. Mary’s Academy in the Bombolulu estate), Nairobi (on Ambira Road), Eldoret (at the Public Works Building next to immigration on Oloo Street), and Nakuru (at the Farming Systems of Kenya Building on Kabarak Road, Kiamunyi) [1].
Understanding Eligibility for Asylum in Kenya
To be eligible to apply for asylum in Kenya, you must be unable or afraid to return to your home country, joining the population of registered refugees and asylum seekers recorded by organisations in June 2026 [1][2]. This fear must be due to a serious danger of suffering harm because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, sex, or because you belong to a specific social group [1]. If you are stateless and cannot return to your previous country of residence for these reasons, you are also eligible to apply [1].
Processing Applications and Seeking Protection
Additionally, individuals who have fled their home country because of war or other major events that seriously disturb public order can apply for asylum in Kenya [1]. The DRS is the main body within the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government that decides on all of these applications [1]. Securing official recognition and proper identity documents helps refugees build a more stable life while international partners work to support long-term solutions [1][3].
Long-Term Integration and the Shirika Plan
On 15 July 2026, the Australian High Commission in Kenya highlighted the importance of transition programmes like the Shirika Plan [3]. This plan is a framework led by the Kenyan Government to move away from temporary humanitarian aid toward sustainable, government-led systems [3]. By supporting local systems and improving public services, the plan aims to build better resilience for both refugees and the local communities hosting them [3].
International Support for Practical Solutions
Australia and other international partners are actively working to support these practical solutions to help refugees integrate and find sustainable livelihoods [3]. For refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, receiving their official registration and ID cards is a crucial step toward participating in these new, long-term development opportunities [1][3].