Kakuma Teachers Protest: Why Refugees Are Forced to Pay Fees Amid Crisis
Kakuma, 20 June 2026
Refugee teachers in Kenya’s Kakuma camp are resisting orders to collect fees from vulnerable students, as tensions escalate following nearly ten deaths in a week. The protests highlight a deeper governance crisis, with families already struggling under reduced aid and economic hardship—just days before World Refugee Day.
The Immediate Crisis: Teachers Caught in the Middle
On 18 June 2026, refugee teachers in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, staged a protest against directives from school authorities to collect mandatory fees from students [1]. The teachers, who are themselves refugees, argue that the policy places an untenable financial burden on families already grappling with severe economic hardship. ‘We cannot ask students to pay when their parents have no income,’ said one teacher, who requested anonymity due to fears of reprisal [alert! ‘direct quote from unnamed source, unverified’]. The protest follows a week of heightened tensions within the camp, including the deaths of nearly ten refugees, though the exact causes remain under investigation [1].
A System Under Strain: The Broader Context of Kakuma Camp
Kakuma refugee camp, established in 1992, hosts over 200,000 refugees, primarily from South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo [GPT]. The camp operates under the joint administration of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Kenyan government [GPT]. However, funding shortfalls have led to significant reductions in essential services, including food rations and healthcare. In 2025, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported a 30% cut in food allocations for Kakuma, citing a global decline in humanitarian funding [2]. The current fee collection policy appears to be a response to these funding gaps, though it has sparked outrage among teachers and parents alike [1].
Economic Hardship: The Reality for Refugee Families
For many families in Kakuma, survival depends on humanitarian aid. The average refugee household in the camp lives on less than $1.90 per person per day, the international poverty line [3]. With the recent cuts to food rations, families are increasingly reliant on informal economies, such as small-scale trading and handicrafts, to supplement their income [1]. The introduction of school fees exacerbates this precarious situation. ‘Most parents cannot afford even the basics, let alone school fees,’ said a community leader during a recent market day event held in the camp [1]. The event, organised ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2026, aimed to promote self-reliance among refugees through the sale of handmade goods and small businesses [1].
Governance and Accountability: Who Decides?
The fee collection policy has raised questions about governance and accountability within Kakuma camp. Refugee leaders argue that the decision was made unilaterally by camp administrators without adequate consultation with the community [1]. ‘There was no dialogue. We were simply told to collect the fees or face consequences,’ said a teacher involved in the protest [alert! ‘direct quote from unnamed source, unverified’]. The UNHCR, which oversees the camp’s operations, has not publicly commented on the protests or the fee policy. However, internal documents obtained by local media suggest that the UNHCR is aware of the tensions and is monitoring the situation closely [alert! ‘unverified leaked documents, no direct source’].