By Sister Annetta Mukundi
Kenya has long been a place of refuge for people fleeing conflict, persecution, and humanitarian
crises in neighboring countries such as South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Ethiopia, and Burundi. For decades, refugee camps such as Kakuma have provided
safety to hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Yet, behind the statistics are stories of
resilience, suffering, faith, and hope that rarely reach the global community.
In a recent phone conference I had with Sr. Elisabetta Grobberio, a missionary sister of De
Foucauld and the animator of the fraternity in Kakuma Refugee Camp, a sobering picture
emerged of the changing realities facing refugees today. The interview revealed not only
growing humanitarian challenges but also the quiet, faithful ministry of Catholic sisters who
accompany refugees with compassion and hope despite extremely limited resources.
A Changing Humanitarian Landscape
According to Sr. Elisabetta, life in Kakuma Camp has deteriorated significantly over the past
year. While refugee life has never been easy, essential services such as food, health care,
education, and basic nutrition had previously been relatively accessible. Today, however, severe
reductions in humanitarian assistance have transformed daily survival into an urgent struggle.
Recent cuts in international aid, particularly food assistance, have dramatically affected
vulnerable families. The introduction of new aid categorization has divided refugees into four
groups, with some receiving full food support, others partial assistance, and many receiving
almost nothing. Tragically, numerous widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities, and
other vulnerable individuals have reportedly found themselves excluded from adequate support
despite their obvious needs.
For many families, one meal a day has become the norm. Among South Sudanese and Sudanese
communities, survival depends largely on remarkable solidarity, with families pooling their food
rations and redistributing them among themselves so that everyone has at least something to eat.
Their unity has become a powerful witness to communal resilience amid scarcity.
The consequences are heartbreaking. Sr. Elisabetta shared that despair caused by food shortages
has contributed to cases of suicide, particularly among mothers who felt unable to provide for
their children. Housing conditions have also worsened as support for shelter construction and
maintenance has diminished, leaving many newly arrived refugees dependent on temporary
reception centers while searching for relatives or friends who can accommodate them. With a
camp population of approximately 300,000 people, Kakuma has become a city struggling to
meet overwhelming humanitarian needs.
Ministry of Presence
Amid these difficult realities, Catholic sisters continue to serve quietly and faithfully.
Working under the umbrella body of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Sr. Elisabetta Grobberio and
Sr. Sabina Mueni, also a member of the missionary sisters of Charles De Foucauld, have
developed ministries that respond to both the spiritual and practical needs of refugees. Rather
than focusing solely on material assistance, they have embraced what their religious spirituality
calls the “ministry of presence”: simply being with people in their suffering.
“Our first mission is presence,” Sr. Elisabetta explained. “People feel they are not alone. The
Church is with them.”
Ministry takes many forms. The sisters established informal education programs, especially for
women who have never had access to formal schooling. English and Kiswahili classes, together
with literacy programs in several local languages, are opening opportunities for women to
communicate, participate more fully in society, and regain their dignity. Currently, nine classes
serve learners from diverse backgrounds.
They also coordinate nutrition support through parish-based St. Vincent groups working
alongside an impressive network of 67 Small Christian Communities spread throughout the
camp. These communities identify the most vulnerable families, not only Catholics but anyone in
need, and ensure that available resources reach those most affected by hunger. The Small
Christian Communities have become both centers of faith and practical solidarity.
While humanitarian aid remains indispensable, Sr. Elizabeth believes that refugee ministry
extends beyond emergency response.
One of the most striking observations from her experience is the refugees’ deep openness to faith.
Having served in other missions, she describes Kakuma as a place where people demonstrate an
extraordinary hunger for the Gospel.
Many refugees had never experienced the life of Small Christian Communities before arriving in
Kakuma. Today, these communities have become places of prayer, belonging, mutual support,
and evangelization. In circumstances where families have lost homes, livelihoods, and even
loved ones, faith becomes a source of resilience and renewed hope.
The sisters also recognize another urgent reality: nearly 80% of the camp’s population is under
the age of thirty, and many young people are unaccompanied minors. For these young refugees,
the sisters strive to become a family and a stable, caring presence in lives marked by
displacement and uncertainty.
Challenges and Opportunities
The interview also highlighted concerns about the effectiveness of humanitarian systems. Sr.
Elisabetta noted that challenges such as corruption, administrative inefficiencies, and high
operational costs within some aid structures can prevent resources from reaching those who need
them most. While acknowledging the complexity of humanitarian operations, her reflections
point to the importance of transparency, accountability, and ensuring that human dignity remains
at the center of every intervention. Yet despite these obstacles, hope remains alive. The witness
of refugees sharing scarce food with neighbors, the dedication of parish volunteers, the vitality of
Small Christian Communities, and the unwavering commitment of religious sisters all testify that
compassion continues to flourish even under the harshest circumstances.
An Invitation to the Global Church
Only two Catholic sisters currently carry out this mission among hundreds of thousands of
refugees in Kakuma. Sr. Elizabeth describes their contribution as “a small drop in the ocean,”
echoing the words often attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta that every drop matters because the
ocean is made up of many drops. She believes the harvest is abundant and that many more
workers are needed in the Lord’s vineyard.
As conflicts continue to uproot millions around the world, the quiet ministry of Catholic sisters
stands as a powerful testimony that even amid hunger, uncertainty, and loss, the simple gift of
presence can become a profound expression of the Gospel.