In 2017, The Guardian profiled Mesfin Getahun, a refugee from Ethiopia who arrived in Kakuma with nothing but built one of the region’s top wholesale businesses. Rather than resettle in the U.S. when his family was finally selected to do so, Getahun refused to go
Part II of IV: The Shirika Plan Series- Refugee Economy
Refugee Economy & Enterprise- From Survival to Prosperity in Kenya’s Emerging Refugee City
In 2017, The Guardian profiled Mesfin Getahun, a refugee from Ethiopia who arrived in Kakuma with nothing but built one of the region’s top wholesale businesses. Rather than resettle in the U.S. when his family was finally selected to do so, Getahun refused to go, and chose to stay where he saw his future. Kakuma had become his home, and his business was still growing. Eight years later, he has expanded, with no regrets.
Now in 2025, as Kakuma transitions into an official municipality, Getahun’s enterprise includes a supermarket and continues to be a vital part of the local economy. His story is emblematic of a larger shift—Kakuma is becoming a place of refuge and opportunity. The city's new status brings a promise of better infrastructure, legal frameworks for investment, and better integration of host and refugee communities.
Amidst this environment, new investment opportunities and business ventures are emerging. One enterprise, Saint Salima Ventures, is a small bakery using a local brick oven invention, (wood-fired oven) currently produces just 250 loaves daily.
However, with an initial investment of $15,000, a full kitchen and school setup could produce 3,200 loaves per month, feeding hundreds and generating a conservative monthly net profit of $350, enough to repay an investor.
Refugee entrepreneurs are no longer waiting for handouts—they're building the future. And for investors, the returns are real, both financially and socially.
Tags: #Investment Opportunities, #Kakuma Business, #Social Enterprise #Kenya, #Ending Hunger #Bakery Initiatives, #Refugee Economy 2025
Ebengo Honore Alfani is a refugee leader and founder of Advocacy Initiative for Youth Development (AIYD2) and Saint Salima Ventures in Kakuma, Kenya. He co-authored the Peace and Conflict Resolution campaign and leads community development initiatives. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebengo-honore/ or https://web.facebook.com/EbengHohonore
Sources: The Guardian, UNHCR, Inkomoko, AP News