Protests Erupt in Kenya’s Kakuma Camp Over Food, Water Shortages

Widespread protests shook Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya on Monday as refugees demonstrated against worsening food and water shortages. According to local media reports, police responded by firing live bullets at protesters in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

Residents say conditions in the camp have deteriorated drastically, with many struggling to access necessities. The crisis comes amid reduced humanitarian aid, following funding cuts from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps, is home to approximately 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, according to Amnesty International.

Speaking on the situation, Mama Kayembe, a Congolese refugee, expressed frustration over the ongoing blame game surrounding the aid cuts:

“Since (Donald) Trump became (US) president, everything is blamed on him. Workers aren’t getting paid—it’s Trump. No medicine in hospitals—it’s Trump. Now we have to pay for school fees—it’s Trump. We’re tired of Trump.”

The funding reductions have not only exacerbated food insecurity but have also fueled rising tensions and instability within the camp. Without alternative sources of aid, concerns are growing that the situation could further deteriorate.