Somali Refugees Welcomed as Family in Kenya’s Kiunga Border Town

Kiunga is a division in the Lamu District of Coast Province located close to the Indian Ocean coast of northern Kenya, and only 15 kilometers from the border with Somalia.

It’s a major marine conservation area, with the Kiunga Marine National Reserve headquartered in Kiunga.

A media release dated December 17, 2025, by the Office of the Director Public Service Management & Administration, County Government of Lamu, highlights a remarkable, grassroots success story in Kiunga, positioning it as an inspiring example of how local communities can naturally integrate refugees without formal camps, external funding, or segregation, contrasting with Kenya’s traditional camp-based approach in places like Dadaab and Kakuma.

The town has uniquely hosted Somali refugees fleeing conflict and drought for over 30 years, whereby instead of isolating them in camps, local families have welcomed refugees into their homes, sharing resources like farmland, fishing grounds, water, and livelihoods, fostering dignity, trust, and peaceful coexistence, where refugees and hosts are treated equally.

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“Without donor funding and without segregation. This organic, dignity-driven model laid the foundation for peaceful coexistence that continues to thrive today,” read part of the notice.

Shee Kupi Shee

Driving the initiative and ensuring the equality and safety of refugees, a native of Kiunga with a mixed Kenyan-Somali heritage, Shee Kupi Shee has formalized this community practice through his public service career.

From 2012 to 2014, he worked as an Immigration Officer, using that opportunity to promote humane border policies.

In 2015, he had the opportunity to serve as a Sub-County Administrator, making him a pivotal link in ensuring the equal distribution of relief food, water, and seeds, as well as access to farming and fishing for both hosts and refugees.

As Director of Disaster Management and Peacebuilding, Kupi facilitated Coordinated responses to crises, built trust with security forces, and ensured cross-border dialogues.

Having completed a Rotary Peace Fellowship at Bahçeşehir University’s Otto and Fran Walter Peace Centre in Turkey, he developed a Social Cohesion Initiative based on Kiunga’s model, focusing on refugee-host integration in fragile borderland contexts.

Kiunga’s national recognition

Kupi’s efforts earned him national honours, such as the recent Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) from Kenya’s President, Dr. William Ruto, and international awards from the International Maritime Rescue Federation for his SAR contributions.

He was also recognized as a hero during the Mashujaa Day celebrations and awards.

Also Read: Why Germany Has Rejected Refugees from Kenya

Through Kupi’s efforts and awards, Kiunga was steered towards national recognition and attention, as Kupi stated that the honors were dedicated to the people of Kiunga, the Boni community, refugees, and cross-border communities in Raskamboni, Somalia.

“Kiunga proves that peace does not begin with camps or funding, but with fairness, trust, and shared humanity,” Kupi noted.

As Kenya prepares to implement the Ushirika Plan, Shee Kupi has called upon national institutions to benchmark Kiunga’s community-led integration model as a practical, scalable solution grounded in lived experiences, as it stands evidence that local solutions can shape national policy and inspire global best practice in refugee integration and peacebuilding when nurtured by inclusive leadership and academic grounding.

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