Examining the Implications of Refugee Repatriation on National Security in Kenya: A Case of Kenya – Somalia Border
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Date
2024-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Repatriation has been recognized to be the best approach to the African refugee crisis when conditions in their native nation are safe. If protection is not assured, there may be danger to both their immediate asylum and the safety of their home location. Notwithstanding the unrest in Somalia, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the United Nations (UN), and the Kenyan government carried out a Tripartite Agreement that resulted in the repatriation; that is, reconnecting Somali refugees in Kenya with their homeland. However, there had been little reflection on the effects it would have on security along the Kenya Somalia border given its proximity to Daadab refugee camp where they had been hosted. The study’s main objective was to examine the implication of repatriation of Somali refugees from Dadaab camp on Kenya’s national Security. Specifically, the study intended to examine the post-repatriation security situation in the Dadaab and along the Kenya-Somali border; tassels the impact of Somali refugee repatriation on commercial activities along Kenya's border with Somalia; to explore the impact of Somali refugee repatriations on security agencies along Kenya's border with Somalia and to investigate potential measures to counter the impact of Somali refugee repatriations on border security between Kenya and Somalia. The study was guided by the Human Needs Theory and the Refugees and Development theory (RAD). The study employed the Ex-post facto and phenomenological designs. Security personnel and business owners who work along the Kenya-Somalia border were the target population of this study. Respondent data was gathered through in-person interviews and general information regarding border security was gathered with the aid of the surveys. Interviews conducted in person, observations, and self-administered questionnaires were used to gather the required data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that Kenya was occasionally at risk of aggressiveness from repatriated refugees due to the refugee camps' proximity to borders in their home country. In regards to the commercial activities, repatriation of the refugees had led to loss of clients at (M=4.03) and the decline in border trade (M=4.01). From the qualitative data, the results showed that other than decline in commercial activities, the community members who worked on the humanitarian aid programmes had lost their jobs. The repatriation of Somali refugees has resulted in economic instability, along the Kenya-Somalia border. According to the results, there is a negative of repatriation on security (M=3.40) in the region with the security agents being the group most at (M = 4.02. In order to mitigate the negative consequences of repatriation, the study established that a peaceful and sustainable repatriation of refugees to their home countries would be made possible by improving social and economic conditions as well as access to timely, accurate, and objective information about those conditions in their home country. The study indicates that there is tension and insecurity because refugees place a great deal of strain on national resources by competing with the host communities, they also play a crucial role in economic development of the nation. However, they draw in more customers and, thanks to donations from non-governmental organizations that that come in to aid the refugees therefore lowering poverty and promoting security. According to the study, Kenyan government should figure out how to bring back the country's prima facie recognition of Somali refugees or create equitable, open and efficient asylum procedures nationwide. In order to support the Kenyan border to security, the government should continually recognize those people who were repatriated back to Somalia but failed to resettle in the nation and therefore opted to come back to Kenya for settlement as refugees.
Description
A Research Project is Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Science (Security and Strategic Studies) in the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies of Kenyatta University, October 2024.
Supervisor
A. M. Sirera