Murkomen: Kenya Will Not Block Lawful Workers From Neighbouring Countries

By Maurice Momanyi

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said Kenya will continue allowing citizens of neighbouring countries to live and work in the country as long as they meet the legal requirements.

Murkomen said Kenya and Uganda should maintain an open environment that allows citizens from either country to pursue employment opportunities across the border.

Speaking at Amanang Secondary School in Bukwo District, Uganda, during a thanksgiving ceremony hosted by Kongasis MP Brian Besta Kapyagon, the CS said regional cooperation should also extend to the movement of people seeking legitimate work opportunities.

He noted that Kenyans who secure employment opportunities in Uganda should be free to take them, just as Ugandans and other citizens from neighbouring countries can seek lawful opportunities in Kenya.

Murkomen also addressed concerns affecting Kenyans living in Uganda, assuring them that the government was working to make access to essential documentation and public services easier.

He said Kenyans residing in Uganda can now apply for national identity cards, passports and other government services through Kenya’s diplomatic mission in Kampala.

According to Murkomen, the arrangement enables Kenyans living abroad to access services without necessarily travelling back to Kenya, similar to arrangements available to Kenyans living in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

The CS further said Kenyans living in border communities should not be subjected to unnecessary discrimination when seeking identification documents.

He pointed to the removal of stringent additional vetting requirements as part of efforts to make access to identification services easier for residents of border regions.

Murkomen also highlighted the security partnership between Kenya and Uganda, particularly in dealing with criminals and armed groups operating across the two countries.

He said security agencies from the two countries have been working together to prevent criminals from exploiting the border to evade arrest.

According to the CS, when suspects flee from Kenya into Uganda following a security operation, Ugandan authorities can pursue them, while Kenyan agencies can similarly respond when criminals cross into Kenya.

Murkomen said the cooperation has contributed to improved security and stability, including in parts of the Kerio Valley that previously experienced persistent banditry.

The remarks come as Kenya and Uganda continue to deepen cooperation on cross-border security, movement of people and access to government services for citizens living away from their home countries.