Kenya, UK launch regional programme to strengthen airport and border security
SHARON NJERU AND ZIPPORAH ODIONYI-KNA
Kenya and the United Kingdom have launched a regional programme aimed at strengthening airport border security, disrup ting migrant smuggling networks and enhancing cooperation among border management agencies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Regional Counter--Smuggling Programme (RCSP) implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the United Kingdom Home Office Border Security Command, seeks to enhance border security, improve inter-agency collaboration and protect vulnerable migrants through intelligence-led migration management.
Principal Secretary in the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, said the programme would reinforce border control and immigration measures by standardising operational procedures across the three countries to ensure coordinated responses to migrant smuggling.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Immigration Services Jane Nyandoro, the PS said the initiative would focus on enhancing enforcement efforts by strengthening border control and immigration systems, while adopting a protection-sensitive approach that safeguards victims of trafficking and addresses gender considerations.
He said implementation would focus on strengthening airport capacity, combating transnational organised crime and advancing rights-based border management ini tiatives through technical assessments, infrastructure upgrades, specialised training and deployment of intelligence and detection technologies.
Kipsang said the programme would support operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport, Kisumu International Airport, Eldoret International Airport and Malindi Airport, strengthe ning national and regional capabilities to detect and deter migrant smuggling, while protecting the rights and dignity of migrants.
He called for closer collaboration among the Directorate of Immigration Services, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Transnational Organised Crime Unit, Counter Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, Border Management Secretariat, Kenya Airports Authority and other stake holders to ensure successful implementation of the programme.
International Organization for Migration Regional Coordinator for East and the Horn of Africa, Mr. Luis Pi Núñez, said the three-year programme, which runs from June 2026 to March 2029, will strengthen airport border manage ment capacities across 13 airports in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
He said the programme will improve infrastructure, equipment and human resource capacity, while enhancing information sharing, inter-agency cooperation and regional coordination among border management authorities.
International Organiza tion for Migration Kenya Acting Chief of Mission Sharif Faisal said Kenya‘s position as a country of origin, destination and transit for migrants makes effective migration gover nance and secure border management essential.
Faisal said the programme will strengthen equipment and build the capacity of immigration officers at Kenya’s international air ports, while promoting a whole-of-government and regional approach to addre ssing migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons.
He reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to working with the Government of Kenya, the United Kingdom Government and regional partners to promote secure, orderly and humane migra tion systems that facilitate legitimate travel while strengthening regional security.