Dadaab Municipality

1. Refugee Complex:

• The Dadaab refugee complex is made up of multiple camps, including Hagadera, Ifo, Ifo II, and Dagahaley.
• At its peak, the camp hosted over 500,000 refugees, although the population has fluctuated over time due to repatriation programs and other factors.
• The camp is jointly managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Kenya.

2. Economy:

• The presence of the refugee camp has significantly influenced the local economy. Humanitarian organizations play a key role in providing employment, infrastructure, and services to both refugees and host communities.
• Local businesses, markets, and informal trade are central to the economy, with goods and services often exchanged between refugees and local Kenyans.

3. Challenges:

• Dadaab faces many challenges, including over-reliance on humanitarian aid, environmental degradation, and strained local resources like water and health services.
• In recent years, the Kenyan government has raised concerns about the security risks posed by the prolonged presence of the refugee camp, especially regarding terrorism and illegal activities.

4. Development Initiatives:

• Efforts are underway to improve the municipality’s infrastructure and services to cater to both the refugee and host populations. These include educational programs, healthcare improvements, and sustainable resource management.
• There have been discussions around transforming Dadaab into an economic hub by integrating the refugee population into the local economy and enhancing investment in areas like agriculture and small-scale industries.

5. Municipality Governance:

• The municipality, like others in Kenya, has a local administration governed under the devolved system. It aims to provide basic services to residents and promote development initiatives.