Officials and Experts Sound Alarm Over Rising Irregular Migration Through Nairobi Corridors

Nairobi's status as a migration crossroads has intensified concerns among government officials and humanitarian experts, who gathered this week to discuss the estimated 40,000 irregular migrants transiting through the city annually—a figure that has more than doubled since 2023.

Speaking at a forum organised by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services at their Embakasi headquarters, migration officials emphasised the strain on existing infrastructure. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, headquartered along Limuru Road, released findings indicating that informal settlements in Eastleigh and Mathare Valley have become de facto staging grounds for migrants awaiting onward travel, often staying between two to six months.

"We are seeing unprecedented flows through our city," said a spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration's Nairobi office, located in the Westlands business district. "The scale has outpaced our capacity to provide basic documentation support and safe passage guidance." The organisation estimates operational costs at approximately 8.5 million Kenya shillings monthly to maintain minimal services.

Regional instability—including recent conflicts in the Horn of Africa and broader Middle East tensions—has intensified transit patterns. Officials note that many migrants are utilising established networks centred around the Kariokoto market area and lodges in Kilimani, where transit arrangements are negotiated at costs ranging from 15,000 to 45,000 shillings per person.

Dr. Patricia Ochieng, a migration researcher at the University of Nairobi's Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, stressed the need for comprehensive local integration policies. "Nairobi cannot function as merely a transit hub," she stated in recent commentary. "We need frameworks that protect migrants during their stay while maintaining public order."

The Kenya Police Service has acknowledged increased pressure on resources in areas surrounding the Central Business District and along Mombasa Road, where informal transport networks operate. Officials confirmed they are exploring intelligence-sharing protocols with regional counterparts in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Djibouti to address smuggling networks.

The UN Refugee Agency's Nairobi branch has called for increased funding to expand processing capacity at its offices on Chiromo Lane. A spokesperson noted that current systems can accommodate approximately 300 cases weekly, yet demand exceeds 800.

Government officials have indicated that a comprehensive migration policy framework is under review, expected by year-end. However, experts warn that without immediate coordination between city authorities, national government bodies, and international organisations, Nairobi's infrastructure challenges will only deepen.

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