East Africa Refugee Crisis: Causes of Tensions and Conflicts between the Local Community and Refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the refugee and host community conflicts in Kakuma refugee camp located in Turkana County, in the North-West parts of Kenya. The study classified factors causing tension and conflicts between the refugees and the local community into four main categories; political and security, limited resources, social welfare and socio-cultural factors. The following three main outstanding points explains what causes tensions and conflicts; firstly, the host community feels refugees are more economically privileged because of the aid they get from refugees aid organizations. Secondly, the host community population has been outnumbered by the refugees’ population that has created fear and tension since the host can do less to stop refugees from doing anything harmful to them. Thirdly, competition as a result of the limited resources such as land, water and wood collection in the penurious semi-arid area where the refugees and host community lives. This study recommends that in order to foster a better existence amongst the refugees and host community, refugees’ agencies should tailor their programs to development of both the host community and refugees as suggested in Refugee Aid and Development Theory.