About the Migration Governance Indicators

Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

Key findings

Introduction

This local Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the County of Nairobi (Kenya) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.

Key findings

Migrants' rights

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Department of Health Services of the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) provides primary health-care services in public hospitals to all residents – including all migrants in the county, irrespective of migratory status.
The Nairobi City County Early Childhood Development and Education Act (2021) includes provisions prohibiting discrimination in terms of education access based on any grounds, including race or social origin, disability, language, or culture.
NCCG has put in place measures aimed at protecting street children, including migrant children, unaccompanied minors and children left behind

Areas with potential for further development

Only Kenyan nationals have access to social housing in Nairobi, as a national ID is needed to access the county’s social housing programmes.
There are no mechanisms in place at the county level that support international migrants in accessing county services.
There are no specific measures to combat discriminatory practices towards migrants in the provision of social services at the county level.

Key findings

Whole of government approach

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Council of Governors, including Nairobi City County Government, are key stakeholders in the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration and they took part in the development of the draft Kenyan national migration policy.

Areas with potential for further development

County-level public servants receive training on cultural sensitivity related specifically to migrants’ rights on an ad hoc basis.
There is no intergovernmental mechanism responsible for coordinating migration issues at the county level.

Key findings

Partnerships

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The county of Nairobi is part of the African division of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) network and participated in the Africities Conference (2022) on the Implementation of Agenda 2030.
The Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) collaborates on migration issues with different United Nations agencies.
There are local provisions at the county level to formally engage civil society organizations in discussions on migration-related policies.

Areas with potential for further development

NCCG is not part of bilateral programmes for city-to-city cooperation within Kenya, specifically on international migration-related issues.
NCCG does not formally engage with members of the diaspora or academia in agenda-setting and the implementation of migration-related programmes and policies.

Key findings

Well-being of migrants

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Nairobi City County Government has collaborated with several civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations on the provision of livelihood services and support to migrants.
The Nairobi County Annual Development Plan 2021/2022 (2020) presents annual rural–urban migration data projections based on the 2009 and 2019 national censuses.
Areas with potential for further development
There is no local-level assessment for monitoring the local labour market demand for immigrants.
The county does not collect or publish migration-specific data as this is done at the national level.
There are measures, guiding principles and county laws governing the ethical recruitment of migrant workers in Nairobi County that would need enforcement and improvement.

Key findings

Mobility dimensions of crises

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Nairobi City County Disaster and Emergency Management Committee partners with consulates and embassies located in Nairobi in the event of a crisis.
In times of crises , the Nairobi City County Government collaborates with the national Department of Children Services and the National Council for Children’s Services on child protection issues, including migrant children.

Areas with potential for further development

The Nairobi City County Disaster and Emergency Management Act does not expressly provide for the human mobility dimension of crises nor the specific needs of migrants and displaced persons.

Key findings

Safe, orderly and regular migration

SAFE, ORDERLY AND DIGNIFIED MIGRATION

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

At the county level, services such as access to justice, health, and early childhood development and education are provided to migrants (including refugees and those with irregular migratory status) through non-governmental organizations in collaboration with the national Government.
There are capacity-building programmes offered by stakeholders, including IOM, to county officers and the community at large on migration-related issues.

Areas with potential for further development