Immigration and National Security: an Assessment of Regional Immigration Into Kenya Using Human-security as a Yard Stick in Evaluating Migrants' Identity and Security Dynamics in Kenya

Abstract

International migration reinforces interdependence between countries allowing for the transfer of knowledge and skills. The nature of migration into Kenya by regional migrants clearly indicates the above motivations and trend with many respondents agreeing to the fact that 'migrating to Kenya was a decision made for various reasons mainly: - searching for peace. and furthering personal development. In an era of growing insecurity concerns within its neighboring states, coupled with the global war on terror, Kenya is increasingly caught between its global market and rights-based norms and values on one side and political- security pressures to effectively control her borders on the other. The key question that this study assessed was how Kenya can secure its borders in pursuing its national security interests and at the same time remaining a haven for humanitarianism in the region? The general objectives of the study were: -first to map out regional immigrant's identity and their reasons to migrate to Kenya. Secondly was to analyze how regional international migration to Kenya has resulted to the adoption of control mechanisms by security agents, and lastly to assess the adoption of human-security intervention strategy as a yardstick towards national security policy formulations and implementation. In order to achieve the above objectives, the study utilized historical analysis; critical-analytic and descriptive methods of research investigation through both interviews and library-based research. The study found out that political regimes in Kenya have used laws and force in competing for their interests.