Nairobi: Principal Secretary (PS) for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, underscored the role of immigration as a potential driver of economic and social transformation in Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, in a speech read on his behalf at the Kenya Population and Development Conference (KPDC) 2025 in Nairobi by the Director of National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, Dr. Dan Opon, PS Bitok highlighted the critical role of immigration in shaping Kenya's demographic and economic landscape. He emphasized the importance of well-managed migration, noting that remittances from Kenyans abroad injected $4.8 billion into the economy in 2024, boosting household incomes, healthcare, and small businesses.
He also pointed out that bilateral labor agreements with countries like the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Germany provide structured pathways for Kenyan citizens to work abroad. However, the PS noted that challenges still need to be addressed including the protection of migrant workers, irregular migration, human trafficking, and climate-induced displacement.
In this regard, Bitok called for robust policies, real-time migration data monitoring, and enhanced diplomatic efforts to safeguard Kenyan workers, especially in the Gulf region. He further emphasized the role of technology and data analytics in migration management, citing Kenya's e-Citizen platform and digital border systems as key innovations.
Addressing climate change, he warned of its increasing impact on migration patterns and called for proactive measures to support affected communities. 'As a nation, we must approach migration holistically, leveraging its prospects for sustainable development,' he stated.
The PS reaffirmed the government's commitment to strategic migration governance and urged stakeholders to collaborate in shaping Kenya's migration future.