Investigating influence of socio economic and political factors on local integration of refugees in Kenya
Date
2019-10
Authors
Muthengi, Maureen Mukuta
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Forced migration is a global issue that has resulted to displacement of over sixty-eight
million people from their countries due to violation of human rights, political tensions, civil war
and armed conflict; forcing them to flee and seek asylum in another country in search of peace
and security. Kenya among other countries has been hosting refugees since 1990. The study
investigated the influence of socio-economic and political factors on local integration of refugees
in Kenya. The study focused on two objectives, to determine the socio-economic factors
influencing the local integration of refugees in Kenya and to establish the political factors
affecting local integration of refugees in Kenya. The literature review section underlined the
theories that supported the concept of local integration and refugee situations. The theories
identified were, the exile and resettlement: refugee theory developed by Egon F. Kunz in 1973
and structural-functional theory by David Émile Durkheim in 1893. The research design that was
used was descriptive survey that used questionnaires as the main data collection tool. The study
targeted refugees that reside in Nairobi and Kakuma, Kenya. The sampling method used was
snow balling where the identified refugee community leaders led the researcher together with the
research assistants on the identification of the respondents based on their country of origin.
Descriptive analysis was used, and findings were presented inform of mean and standard
deviation for ease of understanding and interpretation. The findings demonstrated that socioeconomic
factors do influence local integration of refugees in Kenya and political factors do
affect local integration of refugees in Kenya. This concluded that there is a positive relation
between socio-economic factors and political factors and their influence on local integration of
refugees in Kenya. The study made recommendations concerning local integration to the
government of Kenya, UNHCR, refugees, media and the researchers. Further research may be
conducted on the impact of the KISEDP programme on refugees and the host community and its
success on local integration.
Description
A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Public Policy and Management at Strathmore University
Keywords
Forced Migration, Local Integration, Refugees