The Government has stepped up efforts to demystify public perceptions surrounding migration and foster peaceful coexistence between host communities and foreign nationals through the formulation of Kenya’s first-ever National Migration Policy.
Deputy Director of Immigration Services Dorcas Mosoti stated that while migration is often viewed negatively, a structured national policy will harness its potential to drive local and national economic development. “Migration is a reality that is here to stay, driven by globalization, conflict, and emerging trends such as climate change,” Mosoti said.
“Through our county outreach program, we aim to sensitize and create awareness within local communities regarding migrants, shifting the focus from perceived resource competition to social cohesion and shared growth,” she added.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a county stakeholder consultation workshop in Mombasa, which brought together representatives from national and county governments, civil society organisations, academia, development partners and other stakeholders to review the draft policy and collect public views.
Mosoti highlighted that following an initial outreach initiative launched in 2023, a 26-member Technical Working Group comprising national government officials and civil society actors was established to review progress and address challenges surrounding migration governance.
She noted that while national security remains paramount and non-negotiable when dealing with cross-border mobility, Kenya remains committed to the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol, which guarantees the free movement of persons across member states.
Mombasa County Secretary and Head of Public Service Jeizan Faruk, representing Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, emphasised the strategic role of devolved units as the frontlines of human mobility.
Faruk noted that as Kenya’s premier Coastal gateway for trade and tourism, Mombasa continues to experience complex migration dynamics that require synchronized planning between both tiers of government.
“Migration enriches our society by promoting economic growth, cultural diversity, innovation, and regional integration,” Faruk said adding: “However, because migration cuts across vital local sectors including health, education, housing, labour, and urban planning, it must be integrated into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) to effectively balance resource distribution.”
Faruk commended the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) for bringing policy dialogues to the grassroots level, noting that sustainable migration governance relies on strong inter-governmental partnerships.
The workshop, organised under the auspices of the NCM, an inter-agency platform established in 2016 to coordinate migration management, aims to gather public participation inputs from county officials, civil society, academia, and local leaders to enrich the draft National Migration Policy before its final enactment.
By Sadik Hassan
