Sixteen immigration and border officers from Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government have completed a five-day training in Naivasha, Kenya, conducted by IOM immigration and border management experts from IOM’s African Capacity Building Centre, in coordination with IOM Kenya.
The training, targeting high ranking officers from the Department of Immigration Services, focused on human trafficking and smuggling and imparted critical document examination and fraud detection skills. Participants are expected to share their knowledge with frontline border officials.
Director of Immigration Services Major-General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa thanked Japan, which funded the training, for its support in helping to boost the efficiency of Kenya’s border management and underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation at border crossing points.
“We are already seeing the effects of technology and how it is influencing the flow of people and goods. I am glad that the collaboration between IOM and the Department of Immigration Services over the years has yielded a lot of positive developments,” he said.
“We expect that this training of trainers will strengthen the capacity of immigration officers to manage borders, improve security and respond to various migration threats,” said John Njoroge, IOM Kenya’s Senior External Relations Officer.
Kenya is vulnerable to terrorism, transnational crime and irregular migration across its borders. The government noted the need to address security, the rule of law, and to secure borders in its Medium Term Plan for 2013-2017 and under the strategic plan Vision 2030.
With funding from Japan, IOM is working closely with the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to improve the capacity of Department of Immigration Services officials, strengthen border infrastructure at key border crossing points, and counter transnational organized crime.
