Kenya is in East Africa, bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and South Sudan to the northwest. The country also has a coastline along the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Kenya hosts a significant refugee population, the majority of whom come from neighboring countries experiencing conflict or instability. Somali refugees make up the largest group, followed by refugees from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Burundi. Kenya is also host to smaller populations from Sudan, Türkiye, Afghanistan etc. The refugee population is concentrated in established camps, such as Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei, though some also live in urban areas like Nairobi and its  environs, Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru . 

The country’s refugee system operates under the Refugees Act 2021 and the 2024 Refugees (General) Regulations, which  replaced the  previous Act  to enable  alignment with the 2010 Constitution and   Kenya’s policies with international standards for refugee protection. This Act provides for asylum procedures, rights to documentation, and access to services such as healthcare, education and social economic rights. However, the country also operates an encampment policy, meaning that refugees are typically required to reside in specific areas designated for refugees, with restrictions on their movement. While movement passes can be issued for certain purposes as outlined in the law, such as medical or educational needs, the process remains regulated. The Commissioner for refugees is empowered by the law to grant exemptions from residing in designated areas and has set up an exemption panel to process applications.