This is a technical document, and in order to derive maximum value from its content, it may require the reader to have some programmatic understanding of migration issues.
WEEKLY HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN
Migration Concerns in Kenya (Africa, East Africa)
14-18 February 2011
>> KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS
1) Forced Migration: Climate Change Refugees: Cross-border and internal movement of persons from drought-struck regions
In order to cope with the drought that is ravaging North Eastern Kenya, some pastoralist communities from the region crossed into Uganda with their cattle, in search of pastures and water. But their visit was short-lived after there was cholera outbreak in Uganda, and they were forced to return. This community represents Kenya’s latest Climate Change refugees. According to media reports, water pans have dried up and many boreholes are breaking down due to overuse. Several schools could be closed – it is reported that 14,000 students may drop out of school if the Government does not beef up its school feeding programs in the region. The Government of Kenya is involved in some drought mitigation activities, which include supply of water. It has also deployed a rapid response team to the area that will repair broken down boreholes and other water projects. Meanwhile, in Turkana, one person has been killed and another injured in a clash between Kenyan herders and cattle rustlers from Uganda.
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING: In order to mitigate the impact of climate change on the pastoralist communities in North Eastern Kenya, there is an urgent need for climate change adaptation projects that will help the communities invest in alternate sources of livelihood. In addition, inter-state programs could be initiated that are aimed at facilitating the cross-border mobility of the pastoralists, and ensuring the security of the communities as they migrate. Owing to the increasing pressure on land and resources that the migrants impose on the communities that they move to, peace building programs should also be tailored into the projects.
2) Forced Migration: IDPs agitate for permanent housing
At the beginning of the month, the Government of Kenya reported that in order to pave way for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from the 2007/2008 post-election violence to move into the 1,630 houses that it is constructing, the camps in the North Rift would be demolished by the end of this month (February). This week, some IDPs from Alko camp on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway led a mass demonstration to protest what they termed as “negligence” by the government and starvation in the camps. In other news, amidst accusations of the Government favouring certain communities in the Teldet Forest resettlement program, the Government has reported that it will buy land to resettle the 382 families in Teldet Camp. Thereafter, it will embark on the same program for the 105 displaced families in Patakwa. The families were evicted from Teldet Camp three years ago.
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING: Programming geared towards the IDPs should focus on providing logistical support, psychosocial support, and working with the Government to ensure effective reintegration and the creation of an environment that would support long-term peace building and reconciliation efforts.
3) Regulating migration/Mixed migration: Human smuggling: Number of irregular migrants on the rise
This week, the arrest of 41 illegal migrants of Somali descent and 8 illegal migrants of Ethiopian descent served to fuel concerns about the growing of number of irregular migrants in Kenya.
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING: Projects aimed at capacity building for migration management should continue to enhance the capacity of migration officers to regulate cross-border movement along the porous Kenya-Somalia border. The country of source should also be targeted for counter-human trafficking awareness campaigns.
4) Regulating migration: Capacity building in migration management: Piracy off the coast of Kenya’s shores
Media reports indicated that East Africa anti-piracy agents will be trained by Interpol to improve their forensic and investigative capacity in a new effort to curb cases of piracy in the Indian Ocean. A gap analysis conducted by Interpol identified three critical development needs in East Africa’s maritime field: Forensic facilities; Criminal investigations and Analytical capabilities.
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING: This intervention comes at a time when Somali pirates have been travelling southwards of the Indian Ocean and towards the Gulf of Oman because of the heavy presence of international warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden. Programming should focus on training Somali youth on commercial skills that would allow for alternate means of livelihood. Furthermore, programs should also focus on building the capacity of East Africa’s anti-piracy agents to fight the piracy vice.
5) Migration and development: Return of qualified nationals: Most Kenyans in UK ‘want to come home’
Last week, Kenyans in the Diaspora expressed their interest in joining the race for positions in the next General Election. This week, the findings of a survey conducted by the Government of Kenya’s Ministry of Labour and the International Organization for Migration (Kenya country office) revealed that 80% of Kenyans residing in the UK want to return home permanently. In other news, a Labour Migration Unit that has been opened in the Ministry of Labour. The Unit was opened because of the need to protect Kenyans travelling, working and living abroad.
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING: Programming should focus on encouraging the return of qualified nationals and helping them to reintegrate once they return home. The relevant arms of the Government should be thoroughly trained on managing returnee data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the returnees who require marketable skills training should be taken through the training in order to enhance the success of the reintegration program. Minority returnees (like the disabled) should have specific programs tailored to meet their unique needs.
>> RESPONSE PRIORITIES
The response priorities at this point in time cover: i) Climate Change adaptation for pastoralist communities in Kenya; ii) Controlling of human smuggling; ii) Resettlement of the post-election violence IDPs; iv) Piracy off the coast of the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Aden; v) the Return of qualified nationals.
Suggested interventions include:
Climate Change adaptation for pastoralist communities in Kenya: Rehabilitation of strategic boreholes; Supporting pastoralists to purchase camels because they survive much better in arid conditions than cattle do; Mass veterinary treatment/vaccination programs because weakened livestock are much more susceptible to disease; Fodder production and distribution; Scaling up food aid and nutrition intervention areas, as appropriate; Cash-for-money projects in key affected areas; Facilitating the cross-border mobility of the pastoralists.
Controlling of human smuggling: Anti-human smuggling awareness campaigns; strengthening border controls; Addressing the root causes of human smuggling amongst the community from the source country.
Resettlement of the post-election violence IDPs: Working hand-in-hand with the Government in order to provide permanent shelter; Long-term peace building and reintegration programs; Psycho social support; Offer livelihood opportunities; Logistical support.
Piracy off the coast of the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Aden: Strengthened capacity for the region’s anti-piracy agents; Alternative means of livelihood for Somali youth in order to deter them from engaging in piracy.
The Return of qualified nationals: Addressing the causes of brain drain; Strengthening the capacity of the recently established labour Migration Unit within Kenya’s Ministry of Labour; Designing attractive reintegration packages for emigrants; Linking nationals in the Diaspora to opportunities at home (including opportunities to give back to the society, opportunities for investment, etc.).
>> ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES
Climate Change adaptation for pastoralist communities in Kenya: An increase in resource-based conflict owing to the pressure that the nomads exert on the communities that host them; Increased displacement due to food insecurity may occur.
Controlling of human smuggling: Porous borders owing to limited security personnel; Migration officers’ capacity to respond to such incidents; Limited access to the most-at-risk communities in the country of source; Migration routes keep changing; It is a very ad hoc activity that is hard to anticipate; Corrupt elements at the border points who collude with smugglers.
Resettlement of the post-election violence IDPs: Highly political and sensational nature of the subject of the post-election IDPs; Limited ability to determine the genuine IDPs from the people that are just taking advantage of the situation.
Piracy off the coast of the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Aden: Inadequate infrastructure amongst Kenya’s anti-piracy agents; Limited access to the most-at-risk communities in the country of source.
The Return of qualified nationals: The nationals in the Diaspora have little faith in the Government’s capacity to deliver on basic social amenities.
END//
The author is a humanitarian analyst and she writes on migration. Email her on: msanyu@yahoo.com
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