Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) framework to promote decent work, fair migration, and social protection for workers across the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at the Third IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration held in Nairobi on October 22, 2025, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the meeting marked a major step in strengthening decent work, good governance, and socio-economic progress in the region.
“This meeting marks another significant step in our collective efforts to enhance decent work for all workers, good governance, and social economic progress in the region,” Mutua said.
He noted that Kenya is committed to advancing human mobility policies that support both development and stability under IGAD’s regional framework.
The conference focused on three key themes: labour and employment dynamics in the IGAD region, irregular migration through the Red Sea route, and the IGAD Single Visa Initiative.
Mutua warned that unemployment across IGAD countries continues to rise due to population growth, conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.
The regional unemployment rate increased from 14.3% in 2012 to 15.9% in 2022, with young people and women most affected.
He highlighted the risks facing migrant workers along the Red Sea route, where more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, and at least 3,400 deaths were recorded in the past decade.
Mutua called for improved bilateral labour agreements (BLAs) between IGAD member states and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to ensure fair wages, better working conditions, and adequate social protection.
“There are substantive gaps in the bilateral labour agreements negotiated by member states with countries of destination. This calls for measures to enhance equality of treatment and protection of the rights of migrant workers,” he said.
The CS also emphasized the need for reliable labour market information systems to guide migration policies, job matching, and skills development, saying data gaps hinder effective policy implementation.
On human trafficking, Mutua said it remains one of the leading forms of transnational organized crime in the region, with IGAD countries serving as both source and transit points for trafficked and smuggled workers.
He urged the forum to prioritize cross-border coordination, data sharing, and policy harmonization to protect migrant workers’ rights and improve governance.
Mutua also encouraged member states to look beyond foreign employment and focus on creating green and digital jobs as part of sustainable economic transformation.
“As I conclude, allow me to reiterate the Kenyan government’s full support for IGAD’s ongoing efforts to operationalize regional migration frameworks and promote cross-border cooperation that leaves no community behind,” he said.
