Fact Check: "Four of the top 10 countries for small boat arrivals in the UK are near Kenya."
What We Know
The claim states that "four of the top 10 countries for small boat arrivals in the UK are near Kenya." This assertion was made by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, during a recent announcement regarding the UK-Kenya partnership. The countries mentioned as being near Kenya and part of the top ten for small boat arrivals are Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia (source-2).
According to the UK government's official statistics on small boat arrivals, these figures are derived from operational data collected by UK and French authorities. The data is subject to change and is part of a broader collection of immigration statistics (source-1).
Analysis
The claim can be evaluated by examining the context and accuracy of the statistics provided. The assertion that four countries near Kenya are among the top ten for small boat arrivals is indeed supported by the statement made by David Lammy. However, the reliability of this claim hinges on the accuracy of the data regarding small boat arrivals.
The UK government’s data on small boat arrivals indicates that there has been a significant increase in the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, with nearly 20,000 arrivals reported in the first half of 2025 alone (source-3). However, the specific ranking of countries contributing to these arrivals is not detailed in the cited sources, making it difficult to independently verify the claim about the top ten countries.
While the UK government’s announcement provides a direct quote from a credible source (the Foreign Secretary), it does not offer a comprehensive breakdown of the data that would allow for a thorough verification of the claim. Therefore, while the assertion may be based on current statistics, the lack of detailed data makes it challenging to fully substantiate the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "four of the top 10 countries for small boat arrivals in the UK are near Kenya" is misleading. While the statement is attributed to a credible source, the lack of detailed statistical evidence and the ambiguity surrounding the ranking of countries involved in small boat arrivals prevent it from being definitively verified. The assertion relies heavily on the context provided by the UK government without sufficient data to support the specific rankings mentioned.
