The Interplay between Global humanitarian Policy and the Implementation of the Integrated Settlement Scheme in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya
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Date
2026-05-15
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Publisher
Riara University
Abstract
Globally, humanitarian policy has been progressively adopted as a guiding framework for integrated refugee settlement. Within the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Kenya has accommodated the most substantial refugee population over the past three decades. In 2015, Kenya integrated global humanitarian policies by establishing the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement within the Kakuma refugee camp, with the specific aim of addressing the region's enduring humanitarian crisis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between global humanitarian frameworks and its localized implementation for refugee integration in Kalobeyei is currently underdeveloped in the academic literature. This investigation was designed to achieve three specific objectives: first, to investigate the mechanisms through which global humanitarian policies are integrated within Kenya's local refugee integration frameworks; second, to evaluate the structural factors within Kakuma that influence the adoption of global humanitarian policies in the local refugee integration scheme ,and the third is to assess the implications of domesticating global humanitarian policies on local refugee integration frameworks within Kakuma. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks of liberal institutionalism and constructivism, the study utilized a mixed-methods approach. It involved 165 respondents, comprising 99 refugees, 61 household heads, and 5 key informants affiliated with humanitarian and governmental organizations. Data collection included the administration of questionnaires through surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Regarding the first specific objective, the findings indicated a universal awareness of global humanitarian policies among respondents. However, the comprehension of these policies was noted to be inconsistent and primarily disseminated via local forums, humanitarian personnel, and administrative channels. Study findings on the second specific objective revealed that, a higher proportion of respondents (38.1%) indicated enhanced funding for social services as a priority, (28.4%) indicated the importance of more robust legal safeguards, and (26.1%) considered access to work permits as a pivotal factor for successful integration. These perspectives highlighted advancements in infrastructure, markets, education, and social services, yet also revealed discrepancies between the operational frameworks of humanitarian and county systems. Study findings on the third specific objective three revealed that (23.5%) of respondents perceived their participation in governance and decision-making platforms as genuinely substantive. This limited engagement appeared to be attributable to factors such as established institutional hierarchies, ambiguities in mandates, and insufficient feedback mechanisms. The study concludes that unless integrated refugee settlement schemes are anchored on inclusive governance, equitable service delivery, strengthened livelihood opportunities, legal protections, and meaningful community participation, they risk reproducing marginalization, weak social cohesion, unequal access to resources, and unsustainable refugee integration outcomes. The study recommends, fortifying institutional support to facilitate inclusive decision-making processes; broadening livelihood initiatives that cultivate cooperation between host and refugee communities; and establishing community-level mechanisms capable of effectively contextualizing global norms.
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Keywords
Global Humanitarian Policy, Integrated Refugee Settlement, Refugee Integration, Policy Domestication, Local Governance
Citation
Otieno, E. A. (2026). The Interplay between Global humanitarian Policy and the Implementation of the Integrated Settlement Scheme in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya [Master’s thesis, Riara University].