Over 200,000 refugees await clearance in Kenya as funding shortages stall documentation

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - More than 200,000 refugees in Kenya are waiting for clearance and legal documentation as the Department of Refugee Services faces a severe funding shortfall that has slowed registration and verification, refugee officials said.

Kenya hosts 860,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, according to the latest UNHCR data, most fleeing conflict and insecurity in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, with continued arrivals driven by regional violence, political instability, and climate-related displacement.

Refugee rights groups say the backlog has expanded in recent months because the department lacks the resources and staffing needed to complete biometric updates, conduct interviews, and issue documents at the required pace.

Registration centers in Nairobi, Dadaab, and Kakuma have reported long queues and repeated delays, with many refugees making several trips without completing the process due to limited daily capacity.

Refugee rights groups who spoke to reporters on Friday said the documentation bottleneck is now affecting every stage of the asylum process.

Deu Kamuzinzi, an advocacy lead at Youth Voices Community, told reporters that the desks handling these cases are so thinly staffed that entire files remain untouched, leaving families unsure when they will receive legal status.

Lucy Duku, chair of Refugee Women in Nairobi, also said that her organization has documented numerous cases of refugees who studied in Kenyan schools and universities but still cannot access jobs because they lack basic documents such as work permits or tax identification numbers.

Humanitarian agencies warn that thousands remain in legal limbo without the documents needed to access schooling, medical care, or safe movement, increasing vulnerability to arrest and exploitation.

Legal experts say policy reforms are essential to address the bottlenecks.

Kituo cha Sheria's chairperson Justus Munyithya said the organization is in discussions with government departments on reviewing the legal framework, arguing that streamlined laws would enable faster processing and allow refugees to fully enjoy rights to work, education and health services.

Officials say global funding cuts have worsened the strain on Kenya’s refugee operations, pushing the country to shoulder a heavier burden as new arrivals continue to register from neighboring conflict zones.

In October, the UN high commissioner for refugees warned that a significant funding gap “may force deeper cuts” to refugee-aid programs.