Kakuma and Kalobeyei, in Kenya’s climate-stressed Turkana County, face extreme heat, deforestation, and water scarcity. Through the refugee-led Trees of Hope initiative, communities are shifting from survival to stewardship, restoring degraded land through local tree planting/environmental action.
By: Joseph James Udoh |Columnist | WBN NEWS Africa | December 26, 2025
PART 2:
Kakuma Refugee Camp and the nearby Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement sit at the centre of one of Kenya’s most climate-stressed regions. Located in Turkana County’s arid lands, the area faces intensifying heat, erratic rainfall, and fragile soils vulnerable to rapid degradation.
Average daytime temperatures frequently exceed 38°C, with prolonged heatwaves becoming more common. These conditions affect daily life across the settlements, from public health to education. As one project assessment explains, “Increased heat directly affects schoolchildren, households, and vulnerable groups, leading to health risks and reduced learning concentration.”
Vegetation loss is a parallel crisis. Kakuma, established in 1992, has expanded far beyond its original design, while Kalobeyei was created in 2016 to reduce overcrowding and promote integrated settlement planning. Population growth, dependence on firewood, and limited green infrastructure have accelerated deforestation, echoing broader East African research linking population pressure to land degradation in arid zones. Water scarcity, driven by unpredictable rainfall and recurring drought, further strains household resilience across a population now exceeding 350,000 people.
Against this backdrop, refugees are leading a shift from survival to stewardship through the Trees of Hope initiative, implemented by Let’s Make the Difference (LMTD) Africa in partnership with BIDII YETU, a refugee-led organisation. The project supports community-led tree planting and environmental restoration, with participation from refugees and host community members, reframing refugees as active custodians of their environment.
By centring local leadership, partnership, and dignity, Trees of Hope demonstrates that even under extreme climate pressure, long-term environmental restoration and resilience can take root one community, and one tree, at a time. https://Letsmakethedifference.org
TAGS: #Climate Change #Kenya #Refugees #Environment #Resilience
REFERENCE:
PART 1 :Refugees Leading Climate Action in Northern Kenya
Joseph James Udoh is a WBN News contributor with a passion for digital empowerment. With a background in computer science, theology, and human resource leadership, he brings a unique blend of insight to his writing. An educator, counselor, and content strategist, Joseph is dedicated to helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s digital world.
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