Kenyan Government Criticised Over Refugee Safety Following Camp Clashes
Kakuma, 5 July 2026
A national human rights report reveals serious failures in Kenya’s refugee protection, highlighted by violent police clashes during food and water protests at the Kakuma camp.
Systemic Pressures and the Kakuma Camp Clashes
The violent clashes that erupted at the Kakuma refugee camp in March 2025 highlighted the severe humanitarian pressures facing displaced populations in Kenya [1]. Triggered by acute shortages of food and water, as well as rising insecurity, protests by camp residents were met with police action, resulting in multiple injuries [1]. Following the unrest, the government imposed a curfew on the camp, a restrictive measure that was subsequently challenged in court by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) [1]. This incident became a focal point in the KNCHR’s annual human rights report, released on 9 December 2025, which raised broader concerns about Kenya’s adherence to international refugee protection standards [1].
The KNCHR annual report sharply criticised the state’s asylum management and its compliance with the fundamental principle of non-refoulement [1]. A key violation cited in the report was the forcible return of four Turkish asylum seekers from Nairobi to Ankara, an action that directly challenged Kenya’s treaty obligations [1]. Beyond physical protection, the commission emphasised the economic marginalisation of refugees. KNCHR Chairperson Claris Ogangah argued that the government must strengthen refugee access to labour rights and economic opportunities [1]. Ogangah noted that allowing refugees to work legally and engage in income-generating activities would foster self-reliance and integration while maintaining national labour standards [1].
Indigenous Land Rights and Domestic Violations
The state’s reluctance to adhere to human rights rulings extends beyond refugee camps to domestic indigenous communities. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights recently identified Kenya’s non-compliance regarding the landmark Ogiek community case, specifically pointing out unpaid reparations and the ongoing failure to secure ancestral lands in the Mau Forest [1]. The KNCHR warned that such actions violate constitutional protections against arbitrary evictions and deepen the vulnerability of already marginalised indigenous groups [1]. Conversely, some progress in land disputes was recorded when the National Land Commission (NLC) issued a Gazette notice transferring 2,850 acres [1]—which is equivalent to 1153.355 hectares [GPT]—of land back to the Ilchamus community, resolving a 35-year tenure dispute [1].
The KNCHR report also documented serious domestic human rights violations, including state suppression of free expression. During the 2025 Kenya National Drama Festivals, law enforcement officers used tear gas and live ammunition to disrupt a performance of the play ‘Echoes of War’ by Butere Girls’ High School, despite a High Court order explicitly permitting the performance [1]. Furthermore, the commission highlighted severe regional vulnerabilities, reporting 14 specific human rights cases in Narok County, which included 11 incidents of female genital mutilation (FGM), one forced-marriage-linked femicide, one twin infanticide, and two cases of intimate partner violence [1]. Additionally, the report raised concerns about systemic discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), noting that most employers are failing to meet the mandatory 5% appointment threshold, while progress on implementing integrated education in schools remains sluggish [1].