Refugee Integration: Perspective from Kakuma Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement in Kenya.

This working paper examines refugee integration in Kenya through the lived experiences of refugees and host communities in Kakuma Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement. Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions conducted in late 2022, it identifies five interconnected dimensions of integration: economic, social, cultural, legal, and psychological. Refugees and hosts exhibit growing interdependence through shared markets, employment, and service access. Socially, they attend the same schools, participate in community groups, and form supportive relationships, particularly among women. Cultural integration is reflected in increased intermarriages and shared daily interactions. However, legal restrictions—especially limited freedom of movement—create uncertainty and hinder full inclusion. Psychologically, refugees experience stress due to insecurity about livelihoods, work competition with hosts, and fears about camp closure. While Kenya’s 2021 Refugee Act advances socio‑economic inclusion, integration remains partial and constrained. The study calls for holistic, rights‑based interventions to strengthen refugee inclusion.