Nairobi – IOM Kenya has launched a migrant protection risk assessment report migrant-protection-risk-assessment-report-2023-kenya.pdf which among others focused on identifying protection risks, needs and vulnerabilities of migrants living and transiting through Kenya. The assessment covered five counties including Busia, Kilifi, Kisumu, Kwale, and Nairobi which are busiest migrant corridors and border counties.   

The report was launched during the 4th Migration and Mobility Working Group-Kenya (MMWG) meeting in Nairobi. The meeting was hosted under the topic of “Protecting migrants in vulnerable situations in Kenya”. Since its inception in September 2022, the MMWG has been an instrumental platform to discuss, create synergies and enhance coordination on migration and mobility issues among development partners and donors working in the field of migration such as government of Kenya, ministries, agencies and departments, CSOs/NGOs, and UN agencies.

“Today we’re meeting on the very specific issue – Protecting migrants in vulnerable situation in Kenya. The Slovak Republic will continue to provide assistance through different tools such as capacity building for service providers and creation of awareness raising and advocacy for migrant rights in Kenya” said HE Katarina Žuffa Leligdonova, Solvak Republic Ambassador to Kenya and Co-Chair of the MMWG.

“According to IOM’s Region on the Move Report 2022, about 46% of the migration flow occurs within the East and Horn of Africa region. This report highlights the situation of migrants in Kenya and by extension the Horn of Africa route and as such, we must work together to address the challenges and find solutions to protect and assist migrants in vulnerable situations” – Dimanche Sharon, Chief of Mission, IOM Kenya, and Co-Chair of the MMWG.

Discussants of the report namely CTiP Secretariat, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Directorate of Children Services, Counter Human Trafficking Trust-East Africa, and International Detention Coalition, reiterated findings and recommendation of the report. They called on protection stakeholder in Kenya, government actors, private sector, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to scale up efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of migrants.

As the MMWG continues its vital work, the call for a collaborative effort to safeguard the rights and well-being of migrants in Kenya has never been more urgent. 

 For more information on the MMWG’s efforts and the full report on the assessment,  

Grace Kae        Communication Assistant             gkae@iom.int