Conflict sensitivity and renewable energy: a case study from Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp

The report examines 11 renewable energy projects in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, finding that while they improve energy access, they rarely account for the potential to provoke or exacerbate conflict. The authors argue for a programmatic approach to conflict sensitivity that includes local stakeholder engagement to mitigate tensions over energy access.

• Renewable energy projects in the Kakuma Refugee Camp are rarely designed or evaluated with a focus on conflict sensitivity, leaving a gap in understanding whether these initiatives increase friction within the camp or with host communities.
• The lack of conflict sensitivity is critical because energy scarcity in the region can lead to tensions, particularly when refugees forage for firewood outside the camp, which can result in hostility and risks of sexual violence for women and girls.
• Analysis of 11 renewable energy projects reveals a shift toward partnering with the private sector and treating refugees as customers rather than just beneficiaries, though many projects remain short-term pilots without long-term sustainability plans.
• Market-based energy initiatives in the camp have faced challenges, including resistance from local leaders and competition with projects that provide solar systems as free handouts.
• Renewable energy projects have delivered tangible benefits, such as improving healthcare through solar-powered vaccine storage, enhancing education by allowing students to study at night, and creating limited employment opportunities.

APA

Nyakerario, R., & Mirumachi, N. (2022). Conflict sensitivity and renewable energy: a case study from Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/conflict-sensitivity-and-renewable-energy.pdf

Chicago

Nyakerario, Ruth, and Naho Mirumachi. Conflict sensitivity and renewable energy: a case study from Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/conflict-sensitivity-and-renewable-energy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nyakerario |first1=Ruth |last2=Mirumachi |first2=Naho |title=Conflict sensitivity and renewable energy: a case study from Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/conflict-sensitivity-and-renewable-energy.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nyakerario2022conflict, author = {Nyakerario, Ruth and Mirumachi, Naho}, title = {{Conflict sensitivity and renewable energy: a case study from Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/conflict-sensitivity-and-renewable-energy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }