Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Kenya.
For Kenya country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries and relevant documents, please click here.
As UNHCR statistics generally rely on data from host countries, statistics on refugees alone can give an insufficient account of refugee numbers, as some host countries will not grant refugee status to certain groups. Including statistics for individuals in refugee-like situations is an attempt to account for unrecognized refugees and does not include internally displaced persons. Statistics for stateless refugees are included if available.
Organisations providing legal aid and legal assistance in Kenya
The Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
www.rckkenya.org
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Haki House, 32 Ndemi Road off Muringa Road, Kilimani, Nairobi
Tel: +254 020 20 88 060 or +254 020 20 88 067 or +254 020 26 79 351
Fax: +254 020 20 88 054
Mobile: +254 73 38 60 669 or +254 72 09 43 164
Email: info@rckkenya.org or refcon@rckkenya.org
Contact persons: Eunice Ndonga-Githinji: Eunice@rckkenya.org, Leila Murithia Simiyu: Leila@rckkenya.org
The Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) is a national non-governmental organization created in 1998. RCK’s mission is to promote and protect the rights and dignity of refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs in Kenya. The organization provides legal aid services to refugees, engages in advocacy for policy change and development of legislation in line with international instruments and standards on management of refugees and other forced migrants, and through research and information dissemination for awareness-raising on the plight and rights of refugees in Kenya and the East African region. RCK also provides psychosocial support and counselling to traumatised asylum seekers and refugees. RCK offers assistance in four geographical areas: Nairobi, Kakuma refugee camp, Dadaab refugee camp and Garissa town.
Kituo Cha Sheria
www.kituochasheria.or.ke
Ole Odume Rd, Off Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi
Tel: +254 02 03 87 41 91 / +254 02 03 87 42 20 / +254 02 03 87 62 90
Email: info@kituochasheria.or.ke
Legal aid providing and human rights NGO that exists to empower the poor and marginalised, and to enhance equity and access to justice to for all. Offering free legal advice and education to the poor. They run a forced migration programme which is devoted to the welfare of poor and marginalised urban refugees and IDPs. The programme offers a range of services, including legal representation, assisting refugees in obtaining work permits, birth and death certificates and identity cards.
Heshima Kenya
www.heshimakenya.org
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Kenya Operations Office:
PO Box 63192-00619, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 73 39 12 888
Email: info@heshimakenya.org
US Administration Office:
PO Box 408077, Chicago, Illinois 60640, USA
Tel: +1 (312) 71 44 038
Email: info@heshimakenya.org
Contact person: Alisa Roadcup, Executive Director
Heshima Kenya is an international NGO devoted to identifying, protecting and empowering unaccompanied refugee children and youth living in Nairobi, Kenya. The needs, experiences, emotional well-being and potential of adolescent girls are at the heart of Heshima Kenya and are the focus of our specialized education, shelter and advocacy programming. This is because unaccompanied refugee girls between 13 to 19 years of age, especially in urban areas such as Nairobi, are at particular risk of neglect, exploitation and abuse. Heshima Kenya fosters self-sufficiency and integration, promotes healing and peace, and empowers these minors to take ownership of their own future and that of the community.
HIAS in Kenya
email: info@hias.org.
International Rescue Committee (IRC) Kenya
http://www.rescue.org/where/kenya
Argwings Kodhek Road / P.O. Box 62727-00200 Nairobi
Tel: +254 20 27 19 236 or +254 20 27 19 237
As well as providing humanitarian aid to refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp and engaging in advocacy for refugees’ rights, IRC in Nairobi helps refugee women’s groups to access legal advice, education and small business grants.
Jesuit Refugee Service Kenya
www.jrsea.org
Gitanga Road, behind Maria Immaculata Hospital, P.O. Box 76490, Nairobi 00508, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 38 74 136
Email: kenya@jrs.net
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS seeks to provides education, psychosocial support, pastoral care, peace-education, livelihoods services and emergency relief and is involved in human rights protection and advocacy activities on different levels. In Nairobi, JRS assists new arrivals, asylum seekers and most vulnerable refugees by providing food and non-food items, financial and medical assistance and psycho-social support. JRS grants small loans to urban refugees to enable them become self-reliant and earn their own living. The JRS Mikono Shop helps refugees market and sell their products. JRS provides support for pre-school and secondary level education for refugee children as well.
In Kakuma refugee camp, JRS provides psycho-social and educational support. JRS focuses on counselling and mental health care, training and empowering community counsellors, alternative healers and mental health workers from among the refugees.JRS supports tertiary education for students registered in distance learning programmes, and offers educational scholarships for children with disabilities, and those students who are well-performing.
EASTLEIGH
Urban Refugee Intervention Centre (URIP), Eastleigh Section, 26th Street, AMCO Plaza/Complex, 3rd Floor
Tel: +254 20 24 51 63 07 36 or 86 72 41 07 20 or 80 65 31
NAIROBI
Ole Odume Rd, Off Argwings Kodhek Rd. / P.O. Box 7483, 00300 Ronald Ngala, Nairobi
Tel: +254 02 03 87 62 90 or 38 74 220 or 38 74 191
Fax: +254 02 03 87 62 93
MOMBASA
Fidelity House, Kaunda Avenue – Kizingo / P.O. Box 89065 Mombasa
Tel: +254 04 12 23 03 82
Fax: +254 04 12 23 02 83
Email: msa@kituochasheria.or.ke
Kituo Cha Sheria is a national NGO working to protect the rights of forced migrants in Kenya. Kituo specialises in the representation of the poor and marginalised in cases related to private rights, civil disputes and specifically those related to land, labour and housing both individual and group clients. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is strongly taking shape as a tool for sustainability of the KITUO legal services and constitutes a strategic focus area for KITUO. The programme focuses on policy advocacy and law reform in the areas of: land, housing and labour rights, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)/mediation and other areas such as refugees/asylum claims.
RefugePoint
www.refugepoint.org
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Titan Complex, Chaka Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254.738.999270
Email: hello@refugepoint.org
Using private funds, RefugePoint was founded in 2005 to identify refugees who fall through the cracks of humanitarian aid. Initially providing life-saving care to HIV+ refugees in Nairobi, Kenya, the agency grew quickly, adding a range of services to support those with the most urgent needs. Over time, RefugePoint developed a unique, full-service response model for assisting urban refugees and facilitating their self-reliance. Simultaneously, the organization saw that tens of thousands of resettlement slots were going unused annually and built a unique resettlement program that now partners with the UN Refugee Agency in 30 countries across the globe.
RefugePoint has directly assisted over 100,000 refugees to access resettlement and other pathways to safety and has worked in partnership with others to guarantee access for thousands more. Learn more about our impact.
Cohere (formerly Xavier Project)
www.wearecohere.org
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Kenya Office: Wamagata Court Woodley, Nairobi
P.O Box 61716-00200
Tel: +254706454718
Email: info@wearecohere.org
Cohere is transforming communities by transferring power within the response to refugee crises. To make the most effective and sustainable change within communities, Cohere works closely together with local refugee led organisations (RLOs), who know exactly what’s needed to address the challenges their communities face. RLOs are building stronger communities and forging a path towards self-reliance in refugee hosting areas. Cohere would like their lead to be followed – for local leaders to make the decisions that affect refugee communities.
Relon Kenya
relonkenya.or.ke
Nasra Gardens Estate, Gate B, Along Spine Road, Israel Court House No. 400, 1st Floor
Tel: +254 11 49 58 319
Email: info@relonkenya.or.ke
Organisation working to unite the refugee-led organisations (RLO) in Kenya so as to link them with opportunities, ideas and funding, as well as provide a platform for the RLOs to network amongst each other and other key potential partners. Advocating for refugee participation and inclusion on decision-making tables and policymaking processes at all levels.
Youth Voices Community
youthvoicescommunity.org
Nasra Gardens, Umojo, Embakasi West, Nairobi
Tel: +254 70 50 08 067 / +254 75 81 50 972
Email: info@youthvoicescommunity.org
Refugee led organisation aiming to build awareness on refugee youths’ experiences while also developing their self-reliance. Providing a voice to refugee and vulnerable local youths in Nairobi by helping them share their stories, building their capacity and engaging in advocacy. Producing short story features on refugees and local vulnerable youth and collaborating with partners such as the UNHCR to disseminate information to persons of concern. Working to provide education opportunities and support to refugees and locals.
ANTI-FGM/C ORGANISATIONS IN KENYA
Cherish Others Organisation Kenya
Email: cherishothersorg@yahoo.com, info@cherishotherskenya.org
Cherish Others Organisation Kenya is an NGO based in TransMara and works on health and education. The organisation contributes to advocacy campaigns on issues affecting girls, such as FGM/C; raises awareness among the FGM/C practicing communities in Kenya on FGM/C; supports and encourages girls and women. Currently, the organization is supporting a centre of a community in Kilgoris. The centre is meant to be for girls who run away from the cut.
Equality Now Africa Regional Office
Equality Now puts those at risk of FGM/C in contact with partners who can help.
Ishtar MSM
www.ishtarmsm.org
P.O.BOX 13005-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-020 2497228
Email: info@ishtarmsm.org
Director: Peter N. Njane
Email: director@ishtarmsm.org or pnjane@ishtarmsm.org or pnjoro2002@yahoo.com
Tel: +25 47 21 95 25 70
Administrative contact: Jeffrey K. Musa, Communication and Mobilization Manager
Email: communications@ishtarmsm.org or jeffreym@ishtarmsm.org or jeffreym162@gmail.com
Tel: +254724034964 or +25 47 13 79 71 57 (mobile)
Ishtar MSM is a community based organization that advances sexual health rights of men that have sex with men to reduce the stigma and discrimination aliened with them by creating awareness with the aim of advocating for their rights to access health care, including STI/HIV and AIDS related care and treatment. Ishtar-MSM is a member group of The Gay & Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK).
Ishtar MSM was formed in the year 1997 when the founders and members did a play by the Name “Cleopatra” at the Kenya National Theater. Majority of them were Male Sex Workers and later formed Ishtar as a support group. They would come together and help each other in various ways like bailing each other and moral support. After 1999 they registered the organization as self help group under the ministry of Home affairs, heritage and sports to create awareness to the members in HIV/AIDS prevention, care & treatment.
In the 2003 through new leadership and members the organization included holistically all MSM (Men who have sex with men) and the initial members the Male sex workers were part Ishtar’s programmes.
Currently Ishtar has 300 registered members and the organization operates from Nairobi.