World Refugee Day 2003: Kenya

An art, photo and poster exhibition was held at the French Cultural Centre. Refugee artists from Nairobi and refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab. The students also learned about UNHCR's mandate and refugee programme in Kenya.

A Kenyan theatre group produced a 40-minute play on the tribulations of young refugees, which was performed at the French Cultural Centre on 18 June for a large audience including the general public, government officials, representatives of diplomatic missions and UN agencies, and the media. The play also questioned the negative attitude some Kenyans have towards refugees. The guests were also entertained by performances by a Burundian group, a poem by a young refugee from Kakuma camp, a skit by refugee youths, and a song by Betty Achieng Odhiambo, one of the leading singers in Kenya.

As a way of showing the diversity that refugees bring to the Kenyan society, groups from different countries including Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Ethiopia performed a multi-cultural show before a large audience at the University of Nairobi Grounds on 20 June. There was also a wheelchair basketball match by refugees from Kakuma, which demonstrated young refugees' courage and strength.

In both Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, the celebration committees co-ordinated activities such as cultural performances, sport competitions, and information campaigns for youth.