Nairobi, Kenya, 10 February 2026 (ECA) - Kenyan government officials, United Nations agencies, and key stakeholders today concluded the first day of a three-day national workshop to assess the country's progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The workshop, held in Nairobi, aims to collaboratively prepare Kenya's 2025 progress report for presentation at the 2026 International Migration Review Forum in New York.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) opened the multi-stakeholder technical dialogue, with Mr. Gideon Rutaremwa commending Kenya's leadership. "Kenya has demonstrated notable leadership in translating the Global Compact for Migration into tangible national action," said Mr. Rutaremwa. He emphasized that the dialogue is critical for shaping priorities and ensuring migration is "safe, orderly, regular, and human-centered," aligning with both the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa's Agenda 2063.

As a champion country for the GCM, Kenya is taking stock of achievements and challenges across the Compact's 23 objectives, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, evidence-based, and cooperative migration governance aligned with national development goals.

Mr. Dan Opon, the Director Immigration, at the State Department for Immigration and Citizenship Services, and Head of the Kenya National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, in his opening remarks, emphasized that the GCM is a voluntary framework focused on learning and policy improvement. "Our reporting is not about compliance, but about transparency, learning, and improving our national migration policy," he stated. "Migration is a reality we are managing in a coordinated manner."

Mr. Awili George, of the Kenya National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, outlined Kenya's structured approach, guided by principles of collective commitment, shared responsibility, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. He highlighted the National Action Plan for GCM Implementation (2023-2027), launched in October 2023, as the roadmap for this effort.

Key areas of progress and discussion included:

Data Systems: Establishment of a technical committee and data strategy at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, with plans for a centralized data portal.

Regular Pathways: Operational national labor migration policy and active bilateral labour agreements with several countries.

Vulnerability & Protection: Existence of legal frameworks to protect vulnerable migrants and the establishment of a national assistance trust fund for trafficking victims.

Information & Services: Outreach programs in 15 counties, migrant resource centers, and toll-free helplines to provide accurate information.

The identified implementation challenges requiring focused attention include funding constraints, gaps in disaggregated data, particularly regarding missing migrants, the need for stronger county-level implementation, and the integration of diaspora and refugee data systems.

Participants from various ministries, UN agencies including ECA, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Nairobi City County engaged in robust discussions. Feedback highlighted the need for county empowerment, better data on migrants' motivations, and strengthened partnerships to overcome resource limitations.

"This workshop underscores our whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach," said Rogers Mutende, from the Kenya National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, presented the workshop agenda. He said that: "The insights gathered here are crucial for refining our policies and ensuring our progress report reflects a truly collaborative national effort."

The workshop will continue with parallel thematic sessions on critical issues such as climate-induced mobility, ethical recruitment, and social inclusion, culminating in a final report that will outline actionable recommendations and way forward on migration governance in Kenya.

Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: [email protected]

Source: UNECA