The Dilemma of Hosting Refugees: A Focus on the Insecurity in North-Eastern Kenya
Abstract
Physical security is paramount if any country is to progress both politically and economically. This article
examines the problem of physical insecurity in Dadaab refugee camps in Northeastern Kenya in the last two
decades (1991-2011).The three camps of Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera accommodated an approximate of
300,000 refugees as of July 2009, a number that far exceeds its capacity of 90,000 refugees. The recent influx of
economic refugees fleeing from famine and Al shabaab stricken Somalia has further pushed the number to
470,000 refugees as of January 2012.These camps have had several cases of reported and unreported violence
since its inception in 1991.As of July 2009, Dadaab refugee camp has remained the largest in the world. These
camps are dominated by Somali refugees who depend on livestock keeping for their livelihood. Despite the
Government of Kenya(GoK) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees( UNHCR’s) effort to
promote security in and around Dadaab refugee camps, the problem seem to be deeply rooted hence calling for
attention from the government, the academia and the general public concerned with peaceful coexistence in
society. It is argued that refugee settlement impacts on physical security not only in and around the camps, but
even nationally and internationally. It reveals that the security dynamics in a refugee settlement are complex
because of the spillover effects from refugees’ home countries and the varied interests of both UNHCR, as a
refugee agency, and host government as a law enforcement agency. It reveals that refugees and the host
community often conflict over resources, systems of governance and other varied interests. Citing examples
across the world, it argues that refugee-hosting countries have always found themselves in the dilemma of hosting
refugees as a humanitarian gesture and that of endangering their national security due to refugee security
dynamics. Relating to Kenya’s case that hosts the largest refugee camp in the world, it argues that this poses a
serious national security to Kenya. Given the proximity of the porous Kenya-Somalia border, the similar features
of Somalis of Kenya and those of Somalia (which makes it difficult to differentiate them),it is indeed difficult to
monitor and screen the influx of refugees into Dadaab refugee camp. This poses a major security threat to the
host community. The Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia in pursuit of Al shaabab could have been greatly
contributed by these refugee security dynamics-some combatants posing as refugees threatening the national
security of host countries.