Kenya’s role as a regional refuge has grown significantly, with the number of refugees and asylum seekers in the country surging by 19.1% to 823,932 in 2024, according to the latest Economic Survey 2024 released Tuesday. The sharp increase underlines Kenya’s expanding humanitarian footprint amid persistent conflict and instability across the Horn of Africa.
Somalia and South Sudan remain the largest sources of displaced populations, contributing 56.9% and 23.4% of Kenya’s refugee population, respectively. Other notable countries of origin include the Democratic Republic of Congo (over 63,000 individuals), Ethiopia (42,000+), and Burundi (32,380). A smaller number of refugees also come from Sudan, Uganda, Eritrea, and Rwanda, collectively accounting for about 3% of the total.
The figures represent a notable rise from the 691,868 refugees recorded in 2023 and a staggering 63.2% increase compared to 2020, when Kenya hosted 504,854 refugees and asylum seekers. The report also highlights demographic shifts, with the number of registered refugee children rising by 22.4% and adults by 15.5% over the past year. Men and children now comprise 51.1% and 53.3% of the refugee population, respectively.
Geographically, the majority of refugees remain concentrated in two major camps: Dadaab in Garissa County, home to 50.5% of the refugee population, and Kakuma in Turkana County, which shelters 36.2%. An additional 13.3% reside in urban centers including Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Nakuru.
However, the report warns of rising cases of fraud, particularly in Dadaab and Kakuma, where individuals are suspected of registering multiple times to access limited humanitarian aid.
Despite facing internal security and economic challenges, Kenya continues to stand as a vital sanctuary for displaced populations in the region. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that the actual number of refugees and asylum seekers in the country is closer to 843,000, most of whom rely entirely on humanitarian support for survival.
In a bid to bolster Kenya’s refugee response, the European Union has pledged €14.5 million (approximately Sh2.1 billion) in humanitarian aid for 2025. The funds will support critical services including food distribution, healthcare, and protection for vulnerable groups.
