By Mahmud, Santos & Qaabata – KANERE Staff Writers, December 2022
An Ethiopian-refugee has died at the scene of a violent robbery in Kalobeyei settlement.
The incident was recorded on the night of August 7 2022, with one person killed by gunshot in a series of shocking armed robberies in Kalobeyei’s Village Two.
In an interview with KANERE, both local security guards in Village Two and medical personnel confirmed the incident.
Night attackers damaged the outer fence and shot a man at close range at his residence that night.
The Kenyan police responded at the scene late that night but none of the suspected armed robbers were arrested, according to a local security guard who was present the scene.
Speaking to KANERE, a youth support worker in Kalobeyei’s Village One area said that the community suspects that the police have barely investigated these incidents of killings.
“Most of these cases [have] never being pursued by police, but that’s what the UNHCR and other authorities believe”, an anonymous youth worker told KANERE.
Around mid-August, a meeting for community conflict resolution was held between leaders from both the refugee and host communities at the District Commissioner’s Office. However, tension has remained high throughout the months that followed, while some of the incidents remain unrecognized or unmonitored by the camp authority.
“Kalobeyei settlement is meant that both refugees and members of host communities should live together [in] peaceful coexistence, but these ideas are not happening [for] many years now”, said Shimba, a local security guard who wished to be known only by nickname.
On the night of July 24 2022, a refugee youth was shot and wounded in the Village Two section of Kalobeyei by unidentified armed thugs. Even though the Kenyan police responded to the incident, the reason behind the violent attacks was unknown. Following these violent attacks, safety and protection issues remain a major concern across the camps.
On the night of February 28 2022, a refugee teenager survived a gunshot injury after unknown assailants entered a section of Kakuma Three in the Zone One area at about 9:20pm local time. As the property of unknown values (assorted clothes, bags, phones, TV sets) was stolen and refugee-owned shops in the area have been vandalized, it seems clear that the motive of the attackers is to rob and kill.
UNHCR’s aims or definition for “self-reliance” in Kalobeyei is apparently worsening, because indicators for both self-reliance outcomes and enabling factors that are relevant to refugees and communities continue to be undermined by insecurities such as gun violence.
KANERE is working to investigate some other unreported violent attacks and killings that have occurred across the camps. We welcome members of the public and implementing agencies to share any relevant information.