Urban refugees in Nairobi: Protection, survival, and integration

The article challenges the Government of Kenya's (GOK) official position and the popular local perception that refugees are an economic burden and argues instead that most urban refugees are successful, selfsufficient entrepreneurs. Despite this economic independence, conditions for most refugees in Nairobi are extremely difficult.

Urban refugees live largely without material assistance or legal protection from the GOK or the UNHCR and are vulnerable to chronic police arrest and face high levels of xenophobia from the local population. By highlighting refugee selfsufficiency in Nairobi, this article lends support to the idea of local integration as a viable, durable solution to their situation of protracted exile.