Kenya’s refugee landscape is at a pivotal moment. With over 860,000 refugees and asylum seekers residing in the country, the need to translate progressive legal frameworks into practical, lived realities has never been more urgent. In quest to find a solution, Kituo cha Sheria convened the “Empowering Refugees: Catalyzing Policy Reform for Refugees’ Right to Work in Kenya” two-day workshop in Naivasha, supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Horn of Africa, where stakeholders unpacked new research conducted by Kituo cha Sheria on promoting refugees’ integration and self-reliance, shared evidence from the field, and charted pathways toward meaningful policy reform.
The workshop highlighted a fundamental contradiction: while Kenya has advanced a more inclusive legal environment anchored in Constitutional guarantees and the Refugees Act, refugees continue to face systemic barriers that prevent them from securing dignified work. The research presented unpacked gaps between law and practice, pointing to contradictions within the Immigration Act, restrictive encampment policies, and delays in documentation, inadequate labour protections, and the absence of clear pathways for skills recognition.
These challenges reflect a national crisis in documentation, with over 200,000 refugees awaiting clearance, their applications stalled. This backlog has denied thousands access to employment, education, and health services, leaving entire families in prolonged uncertainty. The human impact was further illustrated during the workshop through a compelling case study from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which highlighted the exhausting and often confusing process refugees must navigate to obtain legal identification, KRA PINs, and business registration; all essential prerequisites for formal employment or entrepreneurship.
Similar experiences were echoed by members of the refugee community. According to Deu Kamuzinzi, a refugee and the advocacy lead at Youth Voices Community, the delays in clearing the piling backlog have locked out refugees from contributing to the economy. Lucy Duku, Chairperson of Refugee Women in Nairobi, also emphasized that even highly educated refugee youth remain excluded from professional opportunities due to documentation gaps, noting,
“Our children were born in this country and have graduated from universities but cannot get jobs as they do not have the necessary documents like KRA PIN.” Lucy Duku, Chairperson of Refugee Women in Nairobi
Deliberations during the workshop highlighted that meaningful integration requires dismantling legislative and administrative barriers that hinder refugees’ right to work. Kituo cha Sheria Chairperson Justus Munyithya reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to engaging government agencies in reviewing and amending legal and policy frameworks that limit refugees’ access to employment, education, and health services. He emphasized,
“As KITUO, we remain committed to ensuring that legal empowerment and policy reform go hand in hand. Refugees do not just need humanitarian assistance; they need a legal and structural environment that allows them to rebuild their lives with autonomy and confidence.” Mr. Justus Munyithya, Board Chair, Kituo Cha Sheria
According to Dorothy Omboto, lawyer and lead consultant researcher of the launched report, there is a pressing need to abolish work permit requirements for refugees and to recognise refugee IDs as legitimate documentation for employment and business registration, an essential step toward alleviating the systemic frustrations refugees face. She noted that existing laws limit refugee integration and access to decent work due to the cumbersome process of obtaining work permits.
There is a pressing need to align Kenya’s progressive legal commitments with efficient, accessible systems that genuinely uphold refugees’ right to work. Moving forward requires coordinated reforms, institutional efficiency, and a renewed commitment to refugee self-reliance. Unlocking work rights is not just a legal necessity; it is an economic, social, and humanitarian imperative. When refugees are able to work, they support their families, contribute to national development, and strengthen the social fabric of Kenya. Advancing policy reform in a way that is not only enacted but also experienced and felt by refugees is a critical step toward ensuring dignity, opportunity, and meaningful inclusion for all.
By; Rony Alal