An assessment of the Security of Interstate Pass as a travel document within the East African Community Region.

Abstract

To enhance free movement of people within the East African regional bloc, partner states have introduced interstate movement passes as regional travel documents. Issuance and use of travel documents involve security consideration. This study aimed to assess the security consideration in the issuance and use of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda (KUR) interstate pass as a travel document within East African Community region. The study had two objectives: to examine the issuance process of KUR interstate pass, to examine conditions of use of KUR interstate pass and. The study was carried out at Busia One Stop Border post (OSBP) and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The target population was thirty (270) Immigration officials, which comprised twenty (20) at Busia OSBP and two hundred and fifty (250) at JKIA. Stratified random sampling was applied to select respondents for the study. A sample size of one hundred and seventy three (173) respondents was chosen. The sample size comprised one hundred and fifty four (154) respondents from JKIA and nineteen (19) respondents from Busia OSBP. The research collected both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected by administering closed and open ended questionnaires to the respondents and secondary data were collected from records at Busia OSBP and JKIA. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables and figures. The study found that, issuance of KUR interstate pass in Kenya is restricted to Kenyan nationals with national identification cards (IDs) and foreign nationals with valid resident permits. Even if issuance requirements includes students with student IDs, the study found that the student ID is not honored and therefore students are not issued with KUR interstate pass. The study also found that among requirement for issuance of KUR interstate pass are machine readable ID and passport which are standardized as per ICAO requirement which the KUR- ISP does not meet. The study established limitations on use that, even though issued within the EAC region, KUR –ISP is not used in all member states. It restricts free movement of persons and merchandise within KUR region. KUR interstate pass is a single journey round trip travel document, must be returned where it was issued. For policy the study recommends that security features on KUR- ISP should be enhanced basing on ICAO standards. KUR-ISP may be turned into a permanent card that is swiped and information stored for re-use, post entry surveillance and minimize its manipulation. There should be a way of standardization of student IDs to enable them be honored for issuance of ISPs. For practice, concerned authorities should not be strict on investigation of what documents have been used to enter Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda as restriction to enter Non KUR –EAC region to enhance free movement of persons within EAC region. The study had limitations, COVID 19 phenomenon made it difficult for the researcher to reach all respondents consequently, questionnaires were emailed but not all were returned. The study was done only at JKIA and Busia OSBP. Other stations issuing KUR Interstate passes were not included hence results may not be generalized. The study suggests for further studies on issuance and use of Interstate pass could be done in other stations within and outside Kenya. The study could also be done on interstate pass in areas not covered in this study using different design and context.