Environmental Condition Predictors of Criminal Victimization Among Immigrants at Kakuma Camp

Refugees face multiple changes as they resettle in new environments. These transitions can occur in living spaces and fluctuating household compositions, as disrupted schooling often leads to out-of-the-ordinary school transitions, changes in family roles, and transitions toward employment. Understanding these environmental changes provides valuable insights into why and how criminal victimization is concentrated in some areas and not others. It also offers guidance on policy and practice to manage victimization and make the places where it occurs safer. This paper evaluated the influence of environmental conditions on immigrant victimization in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The evaluation was based on primary data collected from a population of 252,196 subjects, which included 40 peace and safety officers, 88 law enforcers, and 252,068 refugees drawn from Kakuma. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the immigrants, and an interview schedule was used to gather information from key informants. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ordinal logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between environmental conditions and criminal victimization. Results revealed that environmental conditions, such as overcrowding, poor lighting, and inadequate camp barriers, significantly contribute to the vulnerability to victimization risks. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant and positive relationship (p < 0.001) between environmental conditions and criminal victimization. The study recommended that there was a need to conduct regular environmental risk assessments among the immigrants to identify the vulnerabilities that predispose them (camp residents) to crime, hence improving the conditions of their living environment.