Journey through Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana, Kenya.









 

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The Turkana People and Culture: Pastoralism, Cattle Raiding and Peace.

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 As a community, the Turkana people rely mainly on Pastoralism which involves keeping livestock as their primary source of livelihood. This livestock also serve economic and cultural purposes as they symbolize economic status and are used in traditional events such as dowry ceremonies. Socio-culturally, pastoralism is a measure of social status in among the Turkanas and it functions as wealth, dowry payment, and settlement of disputes. Picture of Turkana pastoralist homestead (Manyatta). While this practice is responsible for the survival of the Turkana in a climatically hostile region, it has, over the years, also been characterized by dangers emanating from the conflicts over scarce water and pasture, which are essential in the region. Furthermore, frequent cattle raids between the pastoralist communities in Kenya's Northern region and cross-border communities in South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia also pose a significant risk and often lead to mutual suspicion of neighbouring...
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Celebrating World Refugee Day in Kakuma-Kalobeyei: Hope away from Home

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The World Refugee Day 2023 (WRD), under the theme of 'Hope away from Home' was celebrated in Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Kakuma, Turkana County. Although the occasion was slated to take place on 20th June, in Kakuma, it was held on 19th, to pave way for national celebrations which took place in Nairobi.  Refugees from the Nuer Community waiting to perform at the WRD in Kalobeyei. In Kalobeyei, the day was marked in Village 2, and was graced by the Turkana County Governor, Hon Jeremia Lomurkai, the UN Refugee Agency Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, the Executive Director of the UN Habitat, Maimunah Sharif, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizens Services, Hon Julius Bitok, the Commissioner General of the Department of Refugee Services, Hon John Burugu, the area Member of Parliament, Hon Epuyo amongst others.  During the event, the key message which was emphasized by most of the speakers was the promotion of self reliance for refugees and host communities...
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From ‘Down Kenya’ to the North: A journey from Nairobi to Lodwar.

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 Lodwar town, the administrative capital of Turkana County, is located in one of Kenya's most marginalized and remote places. Situated in the North-Western parts of Kenya, the town hosts the headquarters of the Turkana County Government and is a commercial hub buzzing with all kinds of businesses, mainly spurred by the presence of refugee camps in the nearby Kakuma town. It has an airport, usually used by humanitarian workers employed by various NGOs in the Kakuma refugee camp, government officers and others to travel to other parts of Kenya, mainly the capital city of Nairobi.  One of the buses ferrying passengers from Nairobi to Lodwar   To understand Turkana County, a little historical background is vital. It is popularly known as the 'Cradle of Mankind' following the discovery of early human fossils, particularly the 'Turkana Boy’ in Nariokotome near Lake Turkana in 1984, which is the most complete early human skeleton ever found. It is mainly inhabited by the Turka...
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