Assessing The Challenges Facing The Department Of Immigration Services In Preventing Illegal Immigration Of Ethiopians Into Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this research is assessing the challenges faced by the Department of Immigration Services in preventing illegal immigration of Ethiopians into Kenya. Effective border management at the points of entry enhances security of the country. At the points of entry is where persons travelling on forged documents, lost passports, drug traffickers, terrorists, human traffickers are identified. The three important outcomes of border security which contribute to prevailing illegal migration and reflect on border security capability deterrence, interdiction and network intelligence. The objectives of the study were to assess whether the Department of Immigration Services have a robust border strategy to enable it deter illegal migration into Kenya, To determine how illegal Ethiopian migrants circumvent state control in order to acquire, manage and sustain their livelihoods into Kenya, to determine whether corruption plays a significant role in facilitating illegal migration into Kenya and to assess the strategies put in place by the Department of Immigration Services to address the challenges on illegal immigration of Ethiopian immigrants. The study utilized evaluative research method. The research adopted both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Purposive sampling which is a form of non-probability sampling was applied in selecting the Sections and Stations within the Department of Immigration Services while probability sampling was used in selecting the sample population. Primary data was gathered, assessed and checked for completeness as well as clarity. Analysis was carried out with the help of tables, percentage, pie charts and bar charts. Statistical Package for Social Science version 17 was applied for analysis.