Inclusive Nairobi: Institutionalising Refugee Inclusion in Nairobi City County Government

Nairobi City County Government, Kenya

Mayor

Sakaja, Arthur Johnson

Start of Project

12/01/2023

End of Project

Ongoing

https://nairobi.go.ke/

Overview

When Nairobi City County pledged in 2023 to institutionalise refugee inclusion within local governance, it set in motion a process that led to the adoption of the Nairobi County Refugee Integration and Community Building Strategy (NCRIS) in 2025—making Nairobi the first county in Kenya to formalise this commitment.

Reported Impact [as of November 2025]

Through cross-departmental coordination, participatory forums, and reforms such as enabling refugees to obtain business permits and access digital skills training, the County has advanced inclusive urban governance. With over 1,400 officers trained in refugee law and an estimated 100,000 refugees expected to benefit, Nairobi demonstrates how devolution can drive sustainable urban solutions when inclusion is embedded in city management.

Despite ongoing funding and coordination challenges, the County’s experience highlights the potential of locally led governance to deliver lasting inclusion.

Call to Local Action - Priority Objectives

Improving migration governance and forced displacement protection

Protecting those most vulnerable

Realising socio-economic inclusion