In the camp, we have many markets.
Market madness was once a joke term for many of us. Who doesn’t like a market? But for us, those days are gone and with no money to spend, we only go to use our Bamba Chakula card. (Learn more about them in our article Food Rations, Diet, Cooking and Hunger )
The most developed market is in Kakuma 1. established in the early days of Kakuma Camp.
It has wholesale shops, retail stores, boutiques, hotels, supermarkets, good schools, etc. Generally, people from within the hosting community outside the camp set these outlets up. Since then, this largest market has seen a lot of development, much of it done by those refugees who resettled in Western countries a long time back and returned to Kakuma to live and run their businesses.
(Other refugees resettled in Europe and America sent money to their families to do business in Kakuma.)
Kakuma 1 markets.
The market in Kakuma 1 is just 900 metres from Kakuma town, which lies beyond the camp boundary. Kakuma town had a large population of Kenyan citizens and is no longer just a random population of nomadic cattle herders.
The market consists of two different tribal markets. On the left side of the town is the Ethiopian market, and on the right is the Somali market. There is also a Hong Kong market, mainly catering for Dinka and Nubians (people from South Sudan).
Kakuma 2 markets
Kakuma 2 has a Fugi market and a Gambella market (Gambella is a region in Ethiopia). They are 200 metres from each other, both providing for Congolese. These are the lowest-developed markets in the camp. Witchcraft occurs in broad daylight, so these markets have low development. Maybe, market madness applies as well.
Kakuma 3 markets
Kakuma 3 also has a diverse selection of markets: The Darfur market (Darfur people are from Sudan). There is a Somali Bantu market. (Bantu refers to black Somalies). Another market caters for white Arabic Somali people, and there’s also the Burundian market. 90% of people around this market are Burundians and Rwandis. (Both share a similar language.)
There is also a smaller Burundian market isolated from the main one. It is well known for perishable food, vegetables, bananas, Irish, cassava, etc.
Kakuma 4 markets
In Kakuma 4, we have a South Sudanese market, mostly selling food varieties to South Sudanese people.
All these markets have Bamba Chakula shops (a maximum of five shops in each market). When UNHCR provides funds, they move all over the camp on a loudspeaker to inform people that they have released money into their accounts.
We only go to market when we have an essential need and the funds to buy it. Being out beyond our shelters puts us at risk of verbal and physical abuse.
Some of us buy sugar, others spend it on greens or fruit, but it doesn’t buy much because, like many places worldwide, food costs have rocketed.
$4 equates to around 580 Kenyan shillings. That might buy one person a decent meal in Kakuma town.
But when you haven’t got more than $4, you spend it on what is essential rather than a treat.
Supermarket in Kakuma town
