Abstract:
Increasing levels of illegal movement of immigrants is a result of high level of political intolerance in neighboring states, economic disparities between countries as well as the threat of climate change and its associated impacts are all key factors that drive immigration and population movements. Illegal movement of immigrants in Kenya is often perceived as the ones providing channels for potential terrorists to enter the country or those likely to spread infectious diseases. Kenya is caught between wanting to be attractive to foreign investors and dealing with the influx of immigrants from as far as the United States and Europe, to as nearby as Somalia. The purpose of this study was to have a historical perspective of illegal immigrants in Kenya with the focus being between 2002 and 2016. This purpose achieved through the following objectives; to assess the influence of Kenya foreign policy, effectiveness of border control systems and most importantly, economic liberalization factors which influenced the existence of illegal immigrants in Kenya The researcher conducted qualitative research in order to come up with assessment of the policy factors that are behind illegal immigrants existing in Kenya. The study found that there are three main outcomes of border security that contribute to preventing illegal migration, and they reflect fundamental border-security capabilities of interdiction, deterrence, and networked intelligence. In many ways, the outcomes mirror the drug-control outcomes, but some important differences arise that require careful consideration. The study recommends that the Government of Kenya should develop and implement a comprehensive migration governance framework, including thorough finalization and implementation of the Migration Policy, the National Labour Migration Policy and the enhancement of the country’s Border Control Technological Capacity. This can be achieved through appropriate technologies to sea, land, and air cross-border movements.