Livelihood Patterns of Urban Refugees: a Case Study of Kayole, Nairobi
Abstract
The asylum seekers and refugees in Nairobi have integrated into the social and economic
life of Nairobi with minimal support from key stakeholders like the Government and the
humanitarian community. In a deteriorating yet competitive informal sector, they have
found both employment and self-employment opportunities. It has been quite a challenge
to fit into the urban fabric based on the fact that they have to undergo a lengthy asylum
seeking process. There is limited engagement with local administrative authorities and a
business community hesitant to engage them (UN, 2011). There is need for a paradigm
shift in strategies being implemented by the government and the humanitarian
community to empower the urban refugees in their pursuit for a sustainable livelihood in
the urban refugees. There is scanty empirical literature on the livelihood patterns of urban if-
refugees in Nairobi. The study usedexploratory research design. The study population
was the urban refugees and asylum seekers living in Kayole Location. The study sample
constituted of 100 urban refugees sampled using stratified sampling technique and 10 key
informants sampled through purposive sampling technique. Data was' collected using
questionnaires, observations, key informants and FGDs. Data was analysed using
descriptive statistics and content analysis. From the findings, the study concluded that the
majority of the urban refugees originated from Great Lakes region. The accessibility of
the social amenities in Kayole is to a great extent similar to that of Kenyans. The urban
refugees have made great strides integrating into the social life of Nairobi. The urban
refugees' social groups were a key socio-economic v~hicle in pursuit of their livelihood.
The main sources of cash income included; casual labour, petty trade, self-employment
and limited formal employment. A small population of urban refugees' families
participated in livelihood support programmes. The main challenges facing the urban
refugees in Nairobi included; lack of livelihood opportunities, lack of legal
documentation, lack of capital, language barrier, insecurity, harassment by local
authorities and police, limited access to high quality health services and lack of
entrepreneurship skills. The study recommends that the NGOs offering livelihood support
to urban refugees should scale up their livelihood support. The government should offer
special protection to the urban refugees. The UNHCR and NGOs should design or
redesign and implement effective livelihoods programmes.
Citation
Master Of Arts In SociologyPublisher
University of Nairobi, Department of Sociology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya