Effects of ICT on immigration service delivery in border towns in Kenya(A Case Study Of Isebania And Busia Border Control Points)
Abstract
This research project investigated ICTs and its effects on Immigration service delivery in
Isebania and Busia Border Control Points in Kenya. Control duties at state borders include tasks
connected with various aspects of border security breaches such as prevention of smuggling of
goods, narcotics, arms and persons across borders and strengthening of control due to threats of
International Terrorism. Suppression of these requires a wide spectrum of strict control
mechanisms. Thus, ICTs seeks to respond effectively to the seemingly competing demands of
facilitating mobility while better managing the risks associated with cross border travel. This
research project therefore investigated the effects of ICTs with the objective to establish the
extent to which factors in the available literature influenced service delivery in lsebania and
Busia Border Control Points. The study adopted descriptive research design with a target
population 185 employees working in different agencies working at lsebania and Busia borders
in Kenya. A sample population of 20 respondents was obtained using stratified random sampling
method. Data was collected using semi- structured questionnaire which was administered by
dropping to the respondents and picking later. The data collected was analyzed using both
qualitative techniques including content analysis and quantitative techniques (especially
descriptive statistics and regression analysis as the inferential statistics with the aid of the SPSS
package). The report is presented in terms of tables. The results of the study show that the use of
ICT promotes service delivery. It also found that Border security can be greatly enhanced when
ICT is employed. It was established that ICT can be used in records management. The results
further led to the conclusion that ICT promotes the technical development and interaction that is
needed for more effectively sharing information, identifying risks and efficient service delivery.
The study also concludes that Inter agency cooperation can deliver efficient service delivery.
Lastly the study concludes that records management is becoming increasingly dependent on
technology. The study recommends that In order to maintain security, comprehensive policies
and administrative structures need to be developed. Other agencies which do not have ICT
systems like the border police should be provided with ICT facilities and training. More studies
need to be carried out in this area especially to investigate the effects of a common regulatory
control distributed across multiple agencies at the border on service delivery.