NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 10 – Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening migration governance through comprehensive legal and institutional reforms, calling them essential to ensuring safe, orderly and development-oriented migration for all.
Delivering the national statement on behalf of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Dr. Fancy Too, told delegates at the High-Level Segment of the 116th International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Council Session that migration remains a critical resilience and development strategy, one that demands robust governance systems.
“Migration is universally acknowledged as a purposeful and positive choice for many who leave the comfort of their habitual residences in search of better opportunities. It yields significant benefits for migrants themselves as well as for both origin and destination societies,” the statement noted.
The Cabinet Secretary highlighted that Kenya’s reforms are grounded in the humanitarian–peace–development nexus and aligned with global and regional frameworks, including Agenda 2030, the Global Compacts, AU Agenda 2063, and the AU Free Movement of Persons Protocol.
Central to this agenda is the finalisation of Kenya’s first National Migration Policy by mid-2026, which will “anchor the HPDN and strengthen migration as a key development enabler it is.”
A major part of Kenya’s progress, the statement said, is the expansion and modernisation of migration-related laws.
These include updates to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, the Refugees Act of 2021, the Labour Relations Act, and reforms to border governance.
Key changes such as the visa-free regime, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), new permit classes, and enhanced API/PNR systems reflect the government’s shift toward predictable, rights-based mobility.
The Cabinet Secretary further outlined a strengthened institutional architecture designed to support better coordination. Kenya now has specialised bodies, including the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the State Department for Emergency Services, and the Department for Refugee Services.
To harmonise actions across government, Kenya established the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM), which the statement said “has been instrumental in placing Kenya on the global migration map as a champion of safe, orderly, and regular migration.”
The NCM is now leading the development of Kenya’s second National Voluntary Review ahead of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum.
On refugee governance, Amb. Too highlighted the Shirika Plan, describing it as a transformative model shifting refugee support “from humanitarian aid to self-reliance, socio-economic inclusion, and integrated development.”
In closing, the statement emphasised that “migration governance is a shared responsibility” and called for deeper international partnerships, predictable financing and stronger global cooperation. Kenya reaffirmed its resolve to “pursue a future where migration is safe, orderly, and contributes meaningfully to national and regional development.”
