Support for Refugee Integration in a Major Refugee-Hosting Country: Evidence from Kenya

What drives public support and opposition to refugee integration in low- and middle-income countries? States have increasingly adopted policies that expand refugees' rights and promote their economic and social inclusion. We provide the first nationwide evidence on public attitudes in Africa by examining Kenya’s new refugee integration law during a rare window between its passage and implementation. Using a nationally representative survey and two experiments, we examine how support varies by policy dimension, refugee nationality, and citizen characteristics. Support for integration is surprisingly high, though citizens favor economic inclusion over free movement, and express lower support for Somali than South Sudanese refugees. Cultural proximity, humanitarian motives, and security concerns shape preferences more than economic factors. Support is highest among citizens with ethnic kinship or close contact with refugees, while opposition to Somalis and free movement is driven primarily by fears of insecurity and resource competition.