Kakuma Refugee Camp Water Crisis Sparks Violence as Families Pay Triple Price for Basic Supplies
Kakuma, 15 March 2026
A three-month water shortage at Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp has forced residents to purchase water at KSh 50 per 20-litre container from local vendors, compared to the previous KSh 20 rate. Daily violence now erupts at water distribution points in Kakuma 3, whilst women who previously earned KSh 300-400 daily selling water have lost their livelihoods entirely. The crisis has eliminated the camp’s twice-daily rationed water supply system that operated between 7-9am and 12-2pm, leaving 65-year-old community leader Zerihun Lemma and thousands of others scrambling for this essential resource in temperatures reaching 38°C.
Women Bear the Heaviest Burden as Water Access Collapses
The water crisis has disproportionately affected women, who traditionally shoulder the responsibility for water collection in refugee communities [GPT]. Halima Aden, a resident of Kakuma 1, Zone 1, and Block 5, explained the severity of the situation: “There has been a three-month water shortage, which is forcing us to buy from local vendors who sell at KSh 50 per 20-litre jerrycan” [1]. The price increase represents a 150 per cent rise from the previous KSh 20 rate for Ethiopian and Somali communities [1]. For families already struggling to meet basic needs, this additional financial burden creates significant hardship, particularly when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) water policy stipulates a minimum requirement of 20 litres per person per day [1].
Economic Devastation Strikes Water Vendors
The crisis has eliminated crucial income sources for women who previously operated water trading businesses within the camp. Regina, a mother of seven and former water trader in Kakuma 1, described the devastating economic impact: “I used to get between KSh 300-400 every day. But now, this income is no longer available” [1]. The loss of this livelihood has forced families like Regina’s to sell personal valuables to survive [1]. She now faces the same struggles as other residents, explaining: “You have to wake up early and queue the entire day to get a 20-litre jerrycan of water, which is not even enough for our daily needs” [1]. The collapse of the water trading economy has created a double burden for these women, who have lost both income and easy access to water.
Violence Erupts at Distribution Points as Competition Intensifies
The water shortage has created dangerous conditions at distribution sites, particularly in Kakuma 3, where competition for limited supplies has escalated into regular violence. Andersen, a community leader in Kakuma 3, reported that “the violence is now a daily routine at water palaces in most places of Kakuma 3” [1]. This deterioration in security represents a significant departure from the previously orderly system, where water was rationed twice daily between 7:00 am and 9:00 am, and again between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm [1]. The breakdown of this structured distribution system has created chaos, forcing vulnerable populations to compete aggressively for access to this essential resource.
Climate Factors Compound Water Infrastructure Failures
The timing of the water crisis coincides with Kenya’s hottest period, when temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius during January, February, and March [1]. This seasonal pattern exacerbates the challenges faced by refugees, who must queue for hours in extreme heat for limited water supplies. Community leaders have linked the crisis to broader climate patterns affecting the region. Ibrahim, a leader in Kakuma 1, Zone 1, and Block 4, noted: “If there is rain in the county, we will not experience water shortage” [1]. The camp’s water supply traditionally depends on seasonal rainfall, with short rains from November to December and longer rains from mid-March to June [1]. However, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) forecasted in July 2021 that “dispersed rainfall with temporal distribution of 1-2 days was experienced in some sections of Turkana West,” highlighting the unpredictable nature of precipitation in the region [1].