In a recent incident at the Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana, a refugee attacked and killed another refugee, marking the latest in a series of violent clashes at the camp.
The attack occurred on July 11, involving a man who used a panga to assault four people, resulting in one fatality and three others being injured and hospitalized at the local IRC Clinic 7 Hospital.
The motive behind the attack has yet to be determined, but it is believed to be connected to ongoing tensions and conflicts within the camp. Police are currently investigating the incident, noting that the main suspect faced mob justice before being rescued and hospitalized under guard in critical condition at IRC Clinic 7 Hospital, with his identity still unknown.
The deceased, identified as Grace Lukuju, succumbed to head injuries, and her body was transferred to Lodwar County Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy. This incident follows recent clashes that claimed the lives of 14 refugees in retaliatory attacks, leading to an uneasy calm returning to the camp after community elders brokered a truce between the Nuer and Anyuak communities from neighboring South Sudan.
The clashes had previously displaced families, resulting in school closures and the temporary relocation of displaced families to other areas, including local churches, amid protests before they were resettled back into Kakuma.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) teams were actively present on the ground to receive the refugees arriving at Kakuma Camp. They conducted registrations and provided essential supplies such as food, water, and clothing to those in need.
Humanitarian organizations, along with the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), are actively involved in efforts to rebuild and support the camp’s infrastructure and services, according to the camp manager.
Asylum seekers and the local community expressed hope for peace and coexistence as stability is sought in Kakuma Camp. The camp itself is divided into four areas: Kakuma 1, 2, 3, and 4, while the nearby Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement comprises three villages.
Located in the northwestern region of Kenya, Kakuma Refugee Camp was established in 1992 to provide refuge to displaced individuals and families fleeing conflicts and hardships from various neighboring countries.
