International Organization for Migration

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non- governmental partners. With 162 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to the governments and migrants.

IOM Kenya works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

Migration flow in Kenya can be categorized in the following areas of issue:

• Forced migration, due to conflicts and natural disasters and resulting in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee outflows;
  
• Irregular migration, due to poverty and reduction in livelihood options, and linked to human trafficking and smuggling;
  
• Traditional and cross-border migration linked to nomadism and cross-border movement. It is mainly a survival strategy such as pastoralists looking for pasture and cross-border trade abroad and within the region; and
  
• Mixed migration, the use of one migration route by several different groups of migrants including asylum seekers, economic migrants, victims of trafficking and smuggling.