Kenya currently hosts around 540,000 refugees who reside primarily in the gazetted camps in Turkana (Kakuma and Kalobeyei) and Garissa counties (Dadaab) and, to a lesser extent, Nairobi and other urban areas. These refugees have few opportunities to participate in formal labour markets or economic activities outside of camps for a variety of reasons, including Kenya’s policy of encampment, lack of access to identification documents, low education and skill levels, and weak labour markets in the refugee-hosting counties. Kenya’s lack of a clear policy for integrating refugees into the labour market exacerbates these issues. Strengthening labour market access for refugees can help to empower them, reduce their reliance on humanitarian aid, and allow them to contribute to Kenya’s economy and development.
