Kenya

UNHCR has been operational in Kenya for over fifty years.  Kenya is the fifth largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the thirteenth largest asylum country in the world. 

 

$157.9 million

are urgently needed from January to December 2025

Check the latest Funding Update

man sitting on the floor surrounded by children
"We had to abandon our shelter after it got submerged. We picked only essential beddings and fled to the nearby school, to seek shelter". 70 year-old Muhumed Shafat and his family seek shelter in one of the schools in Dadaab refugee camps, after their shelter got damaged by floods. © UNHCR/Mohamed Maalim
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The refugee situation in Kenya is protracted, the majority of refugees have resided in the camps for over 30 years with new influxes over the years, mainly from Somalia and South Sudan. UNHCR works closely with the Government of Kenya and numerous national and international partners in providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers from across the East, Horn and Great Lakes Region. UNHCR also supports returnees (former Kenyan refugees abroad coming back to Kenya) with humanitarian assistance.  

UNHCR advocates on behalf of stateless persons in Kenya and with the support of different Government of Kenya actors, supports access to documentation (birth certificates and national ID cards). 

The Government of Kenya is currently shifting its approach toward refugees, which aims to transition refugees from camps into integrated settlements. The multi-year “Shirika Plan” is a pioneering initiative currently under development that could benefit refugees and host communities alike.

Explore the dedicated website to access additional information and UNHCR's news and stories related to Kenya.
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Populations

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Kenya | 2022
Total677,459Refugees | 74%Asylum-seekers | 10%Stateless | 2%Others of concern | 13%

Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is 16,779.

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

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Financials

Kenya
Budget (USD)Expenditure (USD)
201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025-20 million40 million60 million80 million100 million120 million140 million160 million180 million200 million220 million240 million260 million280 million300 million

Budget information for the current year is updated monthly, while budget and expenditure information for all other years are final.

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Strategy
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The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
UNHCR GIS data is publicly accessible in the Operational Data Portal