Kenya Validates New Skills Assessment Study to Strengthen Reintegration Support for Returnees

The International Labour Organization (ILO), under the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), convened a one-day workshop on 31 March 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya to validate a new study focused on the skills development and training needs of returnees in Mombasa and Nairobi Counties. Hosted at the Nairobi Safari Club, the event brought together representatives from over 10 government ministries, two universities, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and social partners.

The primary objective was to review and finalize the “Assessment of Skills Development and Training Needs of Returnees in Mombasa and Nairobi Counties” study. The meeting was structured to strengthen open and evidence-based discussions, gather technical feedback from stakeholders, and define a clear follow-up plan to incorporate the study’s recommendations into national labour reintegration strategies.

The workshop began with remarks by Dr. Wanjiru Kariuki from the Ministry of Labour, who commended the ILO for its continuous support to returnees. She emphasized that the BRMM programme was filling an important knowledge gap by investing in research that maps the existing skill sets of returnees. Citing the recent launch of the Saudi Model House in Mombasa, she urged public training institutions to utilize the study findings to revise curricula and align their training offers with the evolving global labour market demands. Her message also underscored the role of universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in incorporating returnee needs into their course development and outreach.

During the validation, the study’s consultant, Dr. Martin Mati, walked participants through the findings, data sources, and methodologies used in the assessment. The plenary session that followed allowed stakeholders to ask questions, highlight omissions, and recommend improvements. A representative from the Kenya Diaspora Alliance questioned terminology used in the data presentation, while officials from the Ministry of Education raised concerns about language barriers returnees face, particularly those coming back from Arabic-speaking countries. This input exposed a key area not fully captured in the report, signalling the need for future assessments to include a language proficiency component.

The discussion further highlighted critical policy and programming gaps. The lack of gender-specific support mechanisms for female returnees, who often face stigma and socio-economic exclusion, was identified as a major issue. Participants also stressed the need for tailored mental health and psychosocial services for returnees who have suffered trauma or abuse during migration. The Ministry of Health representatives expressed readiness to integrate returnees into national mental health programmes using the One Country Technical Approach (OCTA), encouraging closer inter-ministerial collaboration.

Faculty from Kenyatta University and the Technical University of Kenya admitted that the specific needs of returnees had previously not been on their radar. They pledged to design short-term modular courses that target returnees and enhance their labour market competitiveness.

Financial literacy was another cross-cutting priority echoed by several participants. Stakeholders lamented that migrant workers are often misled into sending hard-earned remittances home, only to discover they were misused. The study’s call for comprehensive financial education before and after migration was widely supported as essential to helping returnees secure long-term financial independence.

The workshop methodology included PowerPoint presentations, group discussions, and plenary feedback sessions. This structure enabled detailed examination of the study’s eight core themes, which include labour market intermediation, capacity of training providers, business development support, and mapping of local employment opportunities in key sectors such as hospitality, beauty, fisheries, retail, and transport.

In the concluding session, participants unanimously endorsed the report, commending its analytical depth. They called on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to act on the recommendations and ensure wide dissemination of the final report. Immediate follow-up actions include incorporating stakeholder input into the draft by April 5, 2025, and rolling out dissemination activities from May onward.