Demonstrations have significantly impacted security at the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya on Monday, with reports indicating that police used live ammunition against the protesters, as per local media sources.
The unrest was triggered by severe shortages of food and water within the camp. Residents have reported a marked decline in living conditions, with many facing difficulties in obtaining essential supplies.
These shortages have coincided with a reduction in humanitarian assistance in Kenya, attributed to budget cuts from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Kakuma, one of the largest refugee camps globally, accommodates approximately 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to Amnesty International.
The camp primarily shelters individuals fleeing from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Mama Kayembe, a Congolese refugee residing in Kakuma, expressed frustration, stating, “Since Trump took office, Kenyans have placed all the blame on him. Workers are unpaid, and it’s Trump’s fault. There’s no medicine in hospitals—it’s Trump’s fault. Now we have to cover school fees ourselves, and it’s Trump’s fault. We are exhausted by this blame.”
The reduction in aid has not only resulted in increased hunger but has also heightened insecurity within the camp. Without alternative funding sources, there are growing concerns that the situation could deteriorate even further.
