Residents of West Pokot County have been urged to acquire passports early and use official migration channels to access employment, business and other opportunities abroad. Boaz Moilem from the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services said passports should be treated as essential travel documents rather than applied for only when an overseas opportunity arises. He warned that last-minute applications could expose prospective travellers to processing delays, potentially causing them to miss employment and business opportunities.
“Each one should yearn to have a passport so that they can use it at any opportune time rather than waiting for the last-minute rush,” Moilem said.
He spoke during the fourth day of the Diaspora Mashinani engagements in West Pokot County, where the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA), in collaboration with National Government Administration Officers, conducted public sensitisation on safe and legal migration. The forums targeted students and members of the public, particularly young people seeking employment and business opportunities outside Kenya.
Government promotes safe overseas employment
Moilem cautioned residents against using unofficial routes to cross international borders, saying irregular migration could complicate efforts to obtain assistance when travellers encounter difficulties abroad. He encouraged residents travelling to neighbouring Uganda to use designated border points, including Suam, Lwakhakha, Malaba and Busia, where the necessary travel documentation can be processed.
He also urged applicants to use the government’s online passport application platform to make the process more convenient. The sensitisation forums were led by Jennifer Wanami from the SDDA’s Skills and Expertise Division and focused on helping residents understand legal migration pathways and make informed decisions before travelling.
Officials also explained the department’s mandate, which includes protecting the rights and welfare of Kenyans living abroad, supporting diaspora employment and enterprise development, and promoting investment, remittances, savings and technology transfer.
Kazi Majuu offers a pathway to overseas jobs
Participants were also introduced to the government’s Kazi Majuu programme and the role of the Diaspora Placement Agency (DPA), a semi-autonomous government agency under the State Department for Diaspora Affairs. Wanami said the DPA provides an official mechanism for connecting skilled and semi-skilled Kenyans with overseas employment opportunities through safe and regular recruitment channels.
The initiative seeks to help jobseekers identify legitimate opportunities while reducing their exposure to irregular recruitment practices and unsafe migration arrangements. For young people pursuing technical and vocational education, the forums highlighted the importance of combining occupational skills with the necessary travel documents and knowledge of legitimate overseas recruitment procedures.
The government’s outreach in West Pokot is part of wider efforts to promote safe, regular and orderly labour mobility while helping Kenyans explore employment opportunities beyond the country’s borders. Prospective migrant workers are encouraged to verify recruitment agencies and job offers through official government channels, understand their employment terms and ensure they have the required travel documents before departure.