Brunson McKinley, Director General of the International
Organization for Migration, visited Kenya 6-7 February, 2008, to
show support for Kenya and the Kenyan people at a critical moment.
Kenya is particularly important to IOM as the first African Member
State of the Organization and the site of IOM's regional office for
East Africa.

Director General McKinley received briefings from IOM staff
regarding the situation in the country and IOM's activities in
support of the more than 250,000 persons displaced by the recent
violence. IOM is working closely in the relief effort with the
Kenyan Red Cross, the Government of Kenya and United Nations
agencies, with points of action in Eldoret, Naivasha, Nairobi and
elsewhere.

IOM's Kenyan staff members and their families have themselves
been hit by the disturbances. The Director General's visit is meant
to show solidarity with them and with Kenya.

McKinley declared his full support for the ongoing negotiations
and promised to stand by Kenya now and in the recovery period.
"Kenya has a special place in the hearts of IOMers," he said. "We
hope and pray for an early end to the violence and a return to
normal conditions in the country. Kenya is a major partner for IOM
and we have developed excellent cooperation over many years. Now is
the moment to help our Kenyan brothers and sisters in any way we
can."

Current IOM activities in the emergency include camp management
and coordination, transportation and psychosocial assistance to the
displaced. IOM intends to continue these activities as long as
necessary.

For the future, IOM is emphasizing early assisted return and
reintegration and HIV prevention. IOM has benefitted from funding
by the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund and is participating in the
UN flash appeal. Director General McKinley urged the international
community to react generously to the needs of the Kenyan
people.

A highlight of the Director General's visit was the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IOM and the Kenyan Red
Cross Society, IOM's principal partner in the current assistance
operations.

The MOU will make possible a wider range of joint activities,
now and after the emergency is over.

In addition, Director General McKinley held meetings with the
Kenyan Minister for Special Programmes, in charge of coordinating
the response to the crisis, and other government and civil society
representatives, leaders of the United Nations community and
members of the Nairobi diplomatic corps.