Influence Of Refugees’ Socio-Economic Security On The Livelihoods Of Host Community In Kakuma, Turkana West Sub-County, Turkana County, Kenya
Date
2025-05-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies (JAIS)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of refugees’ socio-economic
security, specifically access to healthcare services and housing conditions, on the livelihoods
of the host community in Kakuma, Turkana West Sub-County, Kenya. The contention of the
article is that amid increasing refugee inflows, host communities face mounting pressure on
limited public services and natural resources, yet the localized impacts remain underexplored.
Anchored in the Refugee Aid and Development Theory and Social Exchange Theory, the
research sought to evaluate how refugee access to healthcare and housing infrastructure
affects service delivery, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic well-being among
host residents. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and employed
a mixed-methods approach. A representative sample of 418 households from the host
community was selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection combined
structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed
using SPSS for descriptive statistics, while qualitative insights were examined through
thematic analysis. Ethical standards were strictly observed throughout the process. Findings
reveal that shared healthcare facilities are congested, with 84% of respondents reporting
overcrowding, 80% citing overstretched staff, and 73% highlighting frequent drug shortages.
Refugee housing expansion was also found to affect land use and environmental stability,
with 73% of respondents noting reduced access to traditional grazing land, and 76% linking
refugee shelters to deforestation. The study concludes that although refugee integration brings
infrastructure improvements, it simultaneously intensifies competition for scarce resources
and creates tensions when host needs are inadequately addressed. It recommends inclusive
planning, equitable resource allocation, improved healthcare staffing, and sustainable land
use policies to enhance coexistence. The findings aim to inform policy and humanitarian
strategies for fostering balanced, community-integrated refugee interventions.
Description
Keywords
Kenya, Turkana County, Healthcare Services, Host Community, Livelihoods, Refugee Integration, Shelter Conditions