Trapped Potential: Refugee Traders Strive for Dignity and Self-Reliance

By Lich Gatkoi

Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya is one of Africa’s largest refugee settlements, home to over 300,000 people fleeing conflict and persecution. Amid the hardship, many refugees are working hard to rebuild their lives by starting small businesses. But a major obstacle stands in their way — they are unable to operate beyond the camp’s boundaries.

Lich Gatkoi speaks to traders about how restricted movement is driving up their costs and holding back their growth, despite the potential to contribute more to the economy. As Lich discovers, giving refugees the freedom to move isn’t just about mobility — it’s about unlocking opportunity, self-reliance, and dignity.

Abdiwahid Galgalo Hilo stands in front of a window in a store, surrounded by shelves of stacked goods. — Abdiwahid Galgalo Hilo

A storefront within a green outbuilding. There is a wooden canopy overhead, and a man sitting on a plastic chair. — Wariso Dedefi’s shop

Abdiwahid Galgalo Hilo is looking in a freezer. The walls are lined with shelves, stacked with products. — Abdiwahid Galgalo Hilo

Mwanaidi Nerima sits at a wooden desk, typing on a laptop. — Mwanaidi Nerima

The inside of a shop with stacks of fresh produce. — Wariso Dedefi’s shop

This audio piece was created as part of a collaboration between TAP Media and London College of Communication, where young journalists, advocates and content creators living in refugee camps worked alongside a student editorial team to deliver powerful and insightful stories.

Lich Gatkoi is a community reporter with SIKIKA. For the past three years, he has been working with refugees to tell their stories and report on issues affecting their lives in Kakuma Refugee Camp. He is also a radio producer, using Adobe Audition to edit and produce impactful audio content.

Davis Wildman Blakely is a graduate from the University of St. Andrews, where she obtained a degree in International Relations and Social Anthropology, specialising in art, political identity and displacement. She is currently pursuing her MA in Social Justice Journalism at the University of the Arts London, with a particular interest in stories of individual experience, underrepresentation and creative expression.