UNHCR Sub-Office Kakuma has two areas of operation; Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement. Kakuma Camp is divided into four namely: Kakuma 1, 2, 3 and 4 while Kalobeyei Settlement comprises of 3 villages: Village 1, 2 and 3.
Kakuma refugee camp is located in the North-western region of Kenya. The camp was established in 1992 following the arrival of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”. During that year, large groups of Ethiopian refugees fled their country following the fall of the Ethiopian government. Somalia had also experienced high insecurity and civil strife causing people to flee.
The camp is located on the outskirts of Kakuma town, which is the headquarters for Turkana West District of Turkana County. Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement had a population of 186,692 registered refugees and asylum-seekers at the end of November 2018.
With an influx of new arrivals in 2014, Kakuma surpassed its capacity by over 58,000 individuals, leading to congestion in various sections. Following negotiations between UNHCR, the National Government, the County Government of Turkana and the host community, land for a new settlement was identified in Kalobeyei, 20km from Kakuma town.
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Information for journalists, film-makers and researchers visiting Kakuma Refugee Camp
Journalists, researchers, scholars and film-makers intending to visit refugee camps in Kenya are required to obtain a letter of approval from the government of Kenya.
- Local and foreign journalists are required to obtain accreditation from the Media Council of Kenya
- Local and foreign researchers are required to obtain a research permit from the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation
- Local and foreign film-makers will need accreditation from the Kenya Film Commission
Upon obtaining one of the above, you will physically take it or email it to the Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) at the Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government. RAS is the government entity in charge of management of refugee camps in Kenya which will issue you with a letter of approval to visit the camps. You will be required to produce a copy to UNHCR upon arrival in the camps. The contact person for RAS in Kakuma is Colonel Kasili Mutambo . He can be reached on: Email: kasilimutambo@gmail.com. Phone: +254 726251477.
