The Impact Of Economic Integration On Regional Security In East Africa (2000 – 2016)
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Date
2018Author
Lemayan, Wilson Memusi
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The Economic Integration of the East African Community has been greatly affected by
security or the lack of it. There is mistrust in majority of the regional states that have
experienced insecurity with each other and this has resulted to unresolved conflict between
the states. It is due to this, that this study investigated the impact of economic integration on
regional security in the East African states. Specifically the study aims to determine the
influence of cross border economic activities, effects of free trade and the effects of free
movement of people on security in East Africa. The study applied Regional Security
Complex Theory. The study also adopted an exploratory approach by using an explanatory
survey design. The study targeted105 officials at the Immigration Department, Commanders
of security agencies and key Kenya Revenue Authority officials at border points of Busia,
Namanga and Mandera, East African Community secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs officials’ and the target sample was83. Stratified random sampling technique was
used. The questionnaire method has been used to collate and collect primary data while
secondary data came from all the relevant documents that concern this survey. The
quantitative data obtained from the research instruments was analyzed by use of descriptive
statistics which involves understanding data through graphics, tables and summary statistics
which includes (frequencies, percentages and means) and inferential statistics (t-tests) while
qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The Statistical package for social
sciences version 25.0 aided in analysis. The study found that the East Africa porous borders
affected the security of other regional countries. Despite the fact that East African countries
form the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), this Intergovernmental
Authority has not been active in resolving conflicts within the region unlike other continental
forces example African Union Mission in Somalia who were in the forefront in the case of
fighting Somalia's Al-Shabaab terror group. The zero rating of East African Community
goods crossing borders had provided a leeway for extremists to move goods without due
checkups. The study concludes that cross border activities had a significant influence on the
regional security of the Eastern Africa region as evidenced by installation of new border
checks systems, use of common identification in border checks, having integrated regional
border security movement and coordination among trading partners on border security
approaches that enhanced regional security. The study recommends that member states
should realize that opening up the borders will eventually lead to balancing of industry
concentration and thus there is no need to artificially protect domestic industries. The study
also recommends that East African countries should embrace procedures and methodologies
so that risk-based controls are ensured at the most ideal time and results are shared between
customs authorities, place in the supply chain and duplicate or unnecessary controls are
avoided.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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