Kenya Refugees
Kenya and Uganda Impose New Restrictions on Eritrean and Ethiopian Asylum Seekers
NAIROBI, KENYA – In a significant move impacting refugee management in East Africa, Kenya has announced the immediate and temporary suspension of several key services for asylum seekers, a directive that specifically targets individuals from Ethiopia and Eritrea. This action mirrors a similar recent policy change in neighboring Uganda, highlighting a regional trend of tightening controls on asylum applications.
A memo from Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services (DRS), dated July 31, 2025, and signed by acting Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, Mercy Mwasaru, outlines the new measures. The directives explicitly halt the registration of asylum seekers from both Eritrean and Ethiopian nationalities.
Parallel Policies in Neighboring States
The new Kenyan directive comes on the heels of similar actions in Uganda, which has also temporarily suspended the registration of asylum seekers from Eritrea as of January 2025. This parallel approach by two of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries suggests a coordinated or, at minimum, a related response to regional migration pressures.
While Uganda’s refugee policy is often described as one of the most liberal in the world, the country has also faced capacity challenges. A report from Landinfo noted that in October 2024, Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) had a backlog of approximately 50,000 pending asylum applications, with a significant portion from Eritreans. The suspension of registration for new Eritrean arrivals, therefore, appears to be a measure to manage this administrative burden.
Details of Kenya’s Suspension
Beyond the registration freeze, the Kenyan memo specifies several other suspended services, including:
- Exemption Applications: The processing of applications for exemptions that permit refugees to reside outside of designated camps has been halted.
- Onward Mover Registration: The registration of “onward movers”—individuals who have previously sought asylum in another country—is suspended, in line with the Refugees Act No. 10 of 2021.
The directive also consolidates all asylum and refugee services in Nairobi to be offered strictly at the General Mathenge Field offices.
Both Kenya and Uganda have been working to manage their large refugee populations. Kenya’s Refugees Act of 2021 was seen as a step toward a more integrated policy, while Uganda’s 2006 Refugees Act is known for granting refugees freedom of movement and access to work. However, these recent suspensions demonstrate that both nations are facing challenges in the practical implementation of their policies, with capacity, backlogs, and resource constraints likely playing a significant role.
Sources
- Original Memo: Information is based on the internal memo from Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services, dated July 31, 2025.
- Landinfo Report on Uganda: Details on Uganda’s temporary suspension of Eritrean asylum seeker registration and the backlog of pending cases can be found in a February 2025 report from Landinfo, available here.
- Kenya’s Refugees Act, 2021: The memo references this act, which is the legal framework for refugee management in Kenya. More information is available here.
- Urban Refugee Policies in Kenya and Uganda: A July 2025 report comparing refugee policies in both countries provides context on legislative frameworks and implementation challenges, available here.
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