Nairobi, Kenya – A new report has linked Kenya’s growing terror threat to a collapsing humanitarian system and worsening conditions in refugee camps, particularly in the northern region.
According to the NGO Refugee Group (NRG), extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab are exploiting gaps in security and humanitarian support at the Dadaab and Kakuma camps. The mid-year survey, which involved 10 partner organizations and 116 refugees, cited recent U.S. aid cuts and the rollout of Differentiated Assistance (DA) as major contributing factors.
The report reveals a funding shortfall of about Sh2.5 billion (USD 2 million), though the figure could be higher due to incomplete submissions by some agencies. The cuts have left camps struggling to meet basic standards, with water consumption plummeting below emergency levels. At Dadaab, residents receive as little as 10 litres per person daily.
Education has also been hit, with overcrowded schools and reduced teaching staff, while security measures have been severely scaled back. Alarmingly, police escorts in Dadaab are now only available three days a week, despite the camp’s proximity to areas known for Al-Shabaab activity.
Security officers stationed there operate under strained conditions, with just five hours of electricity daily, while the high cost of flights has limited staff movement between Nairobi and the camps. These gaps, the report warns, create space for extremist groups to thrive among already vulnerable populations.
Humanitarian organizations, faced with the shortfall, have been forced to shoulder additional costs and responsibilities, a move the report says is unsustainable in the long term.
The findings come days after the United Kingdom issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting parts of Kenya, citing terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings. The UK alert noted a heightened risk of attacks from groups based in Somalia, including Al-Shabaab and affiliated militias.
With resources thinning and security under strain, the report warns that without urgent intervention, Kenya risks deeper instability as extremists tighten their grip in regions where state presence is dwindling.
