The Kenyan government is finalizing its first National Migration Policy to address public misconceptions around migration and promote harmonious relations between host communities and migrants.
During a stakeholder workshop held on July 31, 2026, in Mombasa, Deputy Director of Immigration Services Dorcas Mosoti emphasized that migration, often negatively perceived, offers significant economic and social opportunities when managed through a comprehensive national framework.
The event convened representatives from national and county governments, civil society, academia, development partners, and other stakeholders to review the draft policy and gather community feedback prior to its completion.
Key Insights from the Workshop
- Migration is an enduring reality influenced by globalisation, conflicts, and climate change.
- The government seeks to shift narratives from competition over resources to shared development and social cohesion.
- A 26-member Technical Working Group, including government and civil society representatives, oversees migration governance progress and challenges.
- Kenya remains committed to the East African Community Common Market Protocol, ensuring free movement within the region.
- Mombasa County, as a major trade and tourism hub, experiences complex migration patterns requiring coordinated planning between national and county governments.
- Integrating migration considerations into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) is essential for balanced resource allocation across sectors like health, education, and housing.
Mombasa County Secretary Jeizan Faruk highlighted the importance of devolved units in managing human mobility and praised the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration and international partners such as GIZ for facilitating grassroots policy dialogues.
The workshop, organized by the inter-agency National Coordination Mechanism on Migration established in 2016, aims to incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives to enrich the policy before its official enactment.
