Kenya Urges Refugees in Kakuma to Collect Official Identification Cards
Kakuma, 10 October 2026
The UNHCR and Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services are calling on refugees in Kakuma camp to collect their official identity cards directly from local offices to maintain legal status.
Accessing Collection Services and Support
To secure legal status and prevent processing delays, registered refugees and asylum seekers who have submitted applications for identification cards are advised to visit the local Department of Refugee Services (DRS) office in Kakuma to confirm status and collect their completed documentation [1]. For residents who have misplaced proof of registration or require immediate administrative assistance, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) maintains a dedicated toll-free helpline at 1517, alongside email support via helpline.kenya@unhcr.org [1]. Obtaining these official credentials remains a crucial operational step, ensuring displaced individuals hold valid legal documentation recognized by local authorities [1].
Eligibility Requirements and Departmental Governance
Legal protections in Kenya extend to individuals who cannot return to their home country or previous place of residence due to reasonable fears of severe harm [1]. Qualifying grounds include persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, sex, or membership of a specific social group, as well as displacement caused by armed conflict or widespread public disorder [1]. The administrative responsibility for managing these cases rests with the Department of Refugee Services, an agency operating within the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government [1]. The DRS oversees refugee protection, processes all formal asylum applications, and officially issues identity cards across the country [1].
Nationwide DRS Presence and Policy Landscape
Beyond the primary administrative facilities in Kakuma and Dadaab, the DRS maintains regional offices to assist displaced populations throughout Kenya [1]. These include facilities at Manga House on Kiambere Road in Upper Hill, Nairobi; the Public Works Building on Oloo Street in Eldoret; the Kiamunyi Farming Systems of Kenya Building in Nakuru; and the Mombasa Transit Office located behind Nyali Cinemax in the Mkomani area [1]. Documentation drives coincide with broader national policy discussions; on 8 October 2026, Senator Consolata Wakwabubi formally requested clarification in the Parliament of Kenya regarding the implementation of the Shirika Plan, an initiative aimed at fostering socio-economic integration for both refugees and host communities [2].