Assessement of the Trajectory of the Implementation of Comesa Free Movement of Persons Protocol in Kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Mutai,Daisy Chepngetich | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-21T06:15:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-21T06:15:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-04 | |
| dc.description | A Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy in the School Of Law, Arts and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University. April 2024 supervisor Joseph Wasonga | |
| dc.description.abstract | The aspect of freedom of movement is considered a dimension in migration and regional integration since it deepens cooperation among Member states. Freedom of movement is one of the essential tenents of continental, political and international human rights system. Most Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa have come up with innovative policies such as the Free Movement of Persons (FMPs) protocols implemented at regional levels whose purpose is to open up borders through the removal of restrictions at entry points in order to facilitate intra-regional travel and mobility across all the RECs. The ratification and implementation of treaties and protocols demonstrates African states commitment to resolve common goods problems in states. Nevertheless, despite the importance of freedom of movement accords to COMESA`s integration agenda, Member states have been slow in the implementation of the COMESA freedom of movement protocol. The COMESA freedom of movement protocol was enacted in 2001, but not all COMESA member states have ratified it or put it into practice therefore, compliance levels is still low in nearly every Member state. This study set out to quantify the results of Kenya's implementation of the free movement of people protocol inside the COMESA. The Study objectives included assessing the degree to which COMESA had achieved its aims, ascertaining the degree to which the COMESA free movement of person’s protocol has been implemented, and identifying barriers to full implementation of the COMESA freedom of movement protocol. The research was guided and supported by regional integration and liberal institutionalism theories. In order to determine the associations between factors, exploratory research design was used in the research study. The research was conducted in Nairobi City County, and the sample was drawn at random from the relevant departments in that locale. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used in selection of key respondents in the research study. Primary data was obtained from self-administered questionnaires and the use of interviews administered to the relevant respondents. Secondary data on the other hand was obtained from books, journal, articles, COMESA annual reports and COMESA meeting decisions. Content analysis - was used in analysing qualitative data and SPSS version 25 was used in quantitative data analysis. Data was corroborated in order to attain validity. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that the process of implementing the protocol on COMESA FMP lags behind in Kenya due to hurdles such as; lack of political commitment, lack of collaboration from stakeholders, slow pace of ratification, fear of loss of sovereignty and also overlapping membership. However, despite the COMESA free movement of person`s protocol not being ratified and implemented in Kenya, the study revealed that notable efforts have been made by Kenya through the issuance of visa on arrival to other COMESA member states. The study recommended that Kenya should prioritize and ensure the full implementation and ratification of the COMESA freedom of movement protocol in order to enhance mobility and achieve the goal of agenda 2063 that seeks to foster integration and effective mobility in African RECs | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28672 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Assessement of the Trajectory of the Implementation of Comesa Free Movement of Persons Protocol in Kenya | |
| dc.type | Thesis |