State urged to create jobs locally to curb migration
The Kenya government should aim to create job opportunities locally to curb irregular migration of its citizens by taking advantage of the country’s fast-growing economy coupled with the prevailing political will of its top leadership.
The rate of unemployment is on the rise due to climate change like the recently witnessed prolonged drought which has reduced opportunities for sourcing livelihoods for many Kenyans thus the government should now start to build better solutions for people who are displaced by climate impact, a United Nations’ migration agency top official has said.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Director General elect Amy Pope during her maiden tour in the country said that as long as people do not have a means of livelihood at home, they will resort to unsafe migration making them prone to human trafficking and exploitation.
“Climate change is going to displace millions of people around the world. We see it portend in this region as a result of flooding and drought. If someone cannot make a living because of drought, we need to get better livelihoods and ensure that they have access to jobs,” said the Pope.
She called for collaboration among countries to address challenges posed by unregularised migration noting that 80 per cent of global migration is within Africa.
“We need to recognise what is fuelling that movement, identify where people are coming from, what is the driving force behind the migration? Is it lack of economic opportunities resulting to joblessness, is it safety or persecution. Then we ensure that we are creating solutions that focus on primary drivers of migration,” Pope who is the first woman elected as IOM DG stated.
In their meeting in State House President William Ruto told Pope that Kenya will work closely with IOM to protect refugees and migrants, including from the adverse effects of climate change.
