Refugees’ Perceptions of Their Voluntary Repatriation and Its Potential Impact on the Host Community: the Case of Dadaab Camp in Kenya

Abstract

Voluntary repatriation is the absence of any pressure on refugee’s decision about how and when to get back to their country of origin without any psychological, physical and material pressures. The objective of the study was to examine refugee’s perception of voluntary repatriation from Kenya to the neighboring countries and its potential impact on the local community of Dadaab. The specific objectives of this study were to: identify the profile of the refugees involved in voluntary repatriation; find out factors constraining voluntary repatriation; examine the causes of voluntary repatriation; assess the effect of voluntary repatriation on the local community; and examine voluntariness of the repatriation process. The will be important to several entities and agencies including refugee community, Government of Kenya, the UN and UNHCR in particular. The study was a descriptive survey study which utilized primary data which focused on refugee’s perception of voluntary repatriation from Kenya to the neighboring countries. Dadaab refugees were the target population. We sampled two sub-camps from 4 sub-camps which comprises of Dadaab complex camp using cluster sampling and in consultation with the camp management, where the level of voluntary repatriation was high. In selection of refugees the study used purposive sampling in selecting 20 from each block giving a sample of 40 refugees. Qualitative data was obtained through administering of questionnaires and interviews to individual refugees and Key Informants working in the camp. The findings on the profiles of the refugees were that: the number of female was 60% more than male in terms gender; younger persons were likely to be affected by war and strife and hence to flee and becomes refugees; most of the refugees had lower level of literacy and formal education; there were more women (55%) household heads and most of the refugees were married and had children and ran business. The factors that prevented refugees from repatriation were lack of reform and instability in the country of origin, and opportunities in the asylum country. The causes of repatriation included failure of the long awaited process of resettlement to materialize, the send-off package presented by the United Nation for those who repatriated, and plans of the government of Kenya to shut up the camp. Effects of xii voluntary repatriation on local community included business activity decline, increase in unemployment and reduction in services like health, education and transportation while problems of insecurity and environmental degradation were likely to reduce with repatriation. The study was planned and conducted in Dadaab refugee complex where most of the refugees lived. Recommendations on the study includes: educating refugees how their home country is their better option; the study need UN to focus more repatriation as the solution, collaborations of hosting country; country of origin and UN to deal with the refugees; UN and government of Kenya should provide enough time for the refugees to repatriate.