Challenges Faced in the Provisions of Health Services to Refugees in Kenya: a Case of Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement

Abstract

Refugee welfare management is bound to pose some challenges especially in provisions of health service when the refugees are held in camps. This study aimed to find out whether there are challenges faced in the provisions of health services to refugees in the Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement. The study had two objectives: to find out the challenges faced by state and non-state actors in the provisions of health services to the refugees in the (KRC) and (KS). Secondly the study aimed to find out how the state and non-state actors are addressing the challenges encountered in provisions of health services to Refugees in (KRC) and (KS). The study adopted a descriptive case study design. The target population was 196,666 (UNHCR, 2020) refugees, 30 Government officials and 50 non- state actors at (KRC) and (KS). Cluster and simple random sampling were applied to select respondents for the study. The refugees were clustered by sex while the other respondents were clustered as state and non-state actors. The sample size is 45 which comprise of 40 refugees, 2 Governmental and 3 non-governmental officials. The response rate was 90%. Both Quantitative and Qualitative Data were collected. Quantitative data were collected using Questionnaires. Qualitative Data were collected through structured interview guides. The researcher interviewed 2 government officials, the director Refugee Affairs Secretariat at Nairobi and the area RAS Registrar at Kakuma. Quantitative data were analyzed using spreadsheet while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that there are challenges in the provisions of health services to refugees in (KRC) and (KS). On provisions of health services, the study revealed challenges such as inadequate health facilities, inadequate staff, and shortage of medicines, inadequate in-patient services, cultural barriers, language barriers, and ignorance. The study recommends to policy makers and to everyone including refugees to make reforms in the provisions of health services to refugees and also to fully implement refugee law. To management practitioners, the study recommends staff coordination so that they can move where there is a shortage, and adequate staffing of health personnel. The study had limitations, first due to outbreak of covid-19 pandemic, Data collection process were affected, because of the strict regulations set by the government. Secondly this was a case study; the result cannot be generalized to other refugee camps in and outside Kenya. The researcher recommends for further study in similar research using different design and different instruments. Secondly the researcher recommends similar study in different camps being conducted, for generalization purpose.