We’d Rather Die by Bullets!’—Starving Refugees Protest in Kakuma
KAKUMA, KENYA – A wave of protests erupted in Kakuma as refugees took to the streets, demanding urgent food aid amid worsening shortages. The demonstrators, carrying cooking pots and water bottles, chanted slogans and expressed their desperation over deteriorating living conditions. Their message was clear: they would rather face bullets than die of hunger.
Refugees Demand Immediate Action
The protest, led by hundreds of refugees, saw angry demonstrators march through Kakuma town while chanting “Haki yetu, haki yetu” (Our rights, our rights). Their frustration was directed at President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government, urging authorities to prioritize food and shelter for the displaced community.
Garang Bull, one of the protest leaders, emphasized that their main demand was food security. He also strongly rejected the government’s plan to integrate them with the local Turkana community. “We cannot be forced into integration. We have our own nationalities and identities,” he stated firmly.
Calls for Repatriation
As desperation grew, some refugees demanded that if the Kenyan government could not provide food, they should be repatriated to their home countries.
“If you are tired of us, take us back to our country. We cannot accept to die of hunger. We’d rather go and die from bullets—that is what brought us here in the first place,” one protester told Nation.
While acknowledging that access to water was manageable, they insisted that food shortages posed an existential threat. “We are not asking for education or medical services at the moment, just food to stay alive,” he added.
Government’s Stance on Refugee Integration
The Kenyan government has been pushing for a policy of refugee integration, arguing that refugees should be allowed to live among host communities instead of relying solely on humanitarian aid. However, this move has been met with resistance from refugees who feel it strips them of their identity and complicates their already precarious situation.
The protests in Kakuma highlight the urgent need for intervention. As the food crisis deepens, refugees continue to plead for action, fearing that if their calls remain unheard, their survival may hang in the balance.
The Way Forward
With humanitarian agencies stretched thin and government policies under scrutiny, the crisis in Kakuma raises serious questions about refugee welfare in Kenya. Will the government heed their cries, or will the suffering continue? Only time will tell, but for the refugees, the message is loud and clear—food is a necessity, not a privilege.
In other news:USAID Funding Cuts Leave Kakuma Refugees in Desperate Need
We’d Rather Die by Bullets!’—Starving Refugees Protest in Kakuma