Hundreds of refugees from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya who were to travel to Germany as part of resettlement plans have been returned to their camps.
This comes after the German government paused all new resettlement submissions until further notice.
The refugees who were in Nairobi for 3 weeks awaiting their departure protested the move saying they had sold all their property in anticipation of greener pastures in Europe.
At the YMCA hostels on Wednesday, May 21 morning, the 183 refugees waited for their buses to be ferried back to the refugee camps.
The group from over five countries had been issued with visas and travel tickets for three weeks before all plans were cut short.
Kakuma refugees appeal for help
The refugees who are already grappling with challenges at the camps including shrinking donor support which has seen an end to the cash support program and reduced food rations further appealed to Germany to reconsider its decision and give them a chance.
“We were told that there is an election going on in Germany. So, our flight was suspended that was on day seven. We are now being told to go back to the Kakuma refugee camp where so many of us have faced threats. So, we are here, we want you to help us,” said one of the refugees, Clement Makonde.
“We have lost everything. We have lost our children are not going to school. They have left school because we are expecting to travel to Germany.”
Lawyer Fatuma Adan on her part called for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to intervene, stressing that most of the refugees oppose the move of going back to the camps.
“The key thing is none of them want to go back to Kakuma. So, it’s really unfortunate that they’re being taken back to Kakuma against their wish and my hope is like UNHCR has to intervene and IOM have to stop what they are doing,” she said.
Also Read: Kenyans Stranded in Germany Risk Deportation After Govt Halts Funding
UNHCR stand
A statement from the UN refugee agency on the suspension of Germany resettlement departures stated that the European nation advised UNHCR to pause all new resettlement submissions.
“In March 2025, Germany advised UNHCR to pause all new resettlement submissions. On 5th May 2025, the planned departure of 183 refugees to Germany was postponed until further notice,” read part of the statement.
“UNHCR is advocating for the resumption of the program and will share updates once received. Their case remains active unless officially closed.”
Also Read: Over 720,000 Refugees in Kenya to Go Hungry After Fresh WFP Fund Cuts
The agency has asked the refugees not to sell their shelters, quit jobs or take loans based on unconfirmed travel and that they will help in replacing refugee ID documents, return them to their original shelters and give basic household items.
The Kakuma Refugee Camp was established in 1992 following the arrival of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”. During that year, large groups of Ethiopian refugees fled their country following the fall of the Ethiopian government. Somalia had also experienced high insecurity and civil strife causing people to flee.
The camp also hosts refugees from other countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Eritrea, Sudan and Uganda.
As of March 2025, the camp had a total number of 303,247 registered refugees according to UNHCR.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Thursday announced the worst cut in food assistance ever recorded in Kenya leaving more than 720,000 refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei refugee camps facing a food crisis.
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