The Strategies Used by State and Non State Actors in Empowering the Refugees in Kenya: a Case Study of Tushirikiane Afrika (Tusa)
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Date
2015-09Author
Ayinkamiye, Rose
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Refugees from war-torn countries in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) have been exposed to
traumatic and unspeakable circumstances as a result of their forced displacement. War, ethnic
cleansing, and other forms of violence have forced them to undertake unplanned and dangerous
journeys to seek safety. Feelings of profound loss due to the death of or the separation from
parents and other family members are deep and common. Many have spent protracted periods in
refugee camps or in slum-like conditions in towns, deprived of adequate food, shelter, health and
education. On arrival in Kenya they are faced with new settlement pressures including learning
English, settling into homes, enrolling in schools and adjusting to a very different way of life.
Various organizations and agencies which are state and non state have taken steps to empower
the refugees who have resettled in Kenya in order to improve their livelihoods. The aim of the
study is to establish the refugee empowerment strategies by state and non-state actors in Kenya.
This study was conducted as a descriptive survey since the researcher intends to obtain
information that better describes refugee empowerment by both state and non state actors. The
population of the study is the refugees from the GLR living in Nairobi who are members of
Tushirikiane Afrika Trust (TUSA). According to the TUSA‘s report at the end of November
2012, its refugee population counted a total of 4,555 distributed in 887 households with 52
Burundians, 509 Congolese, and 326 Rwandans.Stratified Sampling Method was used to sample
the refugees who participated in this study. The sample was stratified according to refugees‘
countries of origin. Taking 20% of the population in each population stratum enabled the
researcher to achieve a desired representation from the groups in the population strata and also to
ensure greater accuracy in the findings. The sampling technique produced estimates of overall
population parameters with greater precision. The sample size consisted of a total of 177
refugees supported by TUSA Program. The program directors were purposively sampled since
they are involved in refugee empowerment programs and hence have valuable information on the
strategies used to empower the refugees; a total of 10 program directors participated in this
study. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version
17.0 and then presented in the report in the form of tables and graphs. The findings revealed that
TUSA is working towards active participation of refugees at all levels/structures during the
identification of their needs, the planning of activities, the execution and evaluation of the
program as a strategy to empower the refugees from the GLR living in Nairobi. This is being
achieved by the organization through encouraging the refugees to occupy leadership positions
and also motivating them to look for local solutions within the community before looking for
outside solutions to their problems. Tushirikiane Afrika provides spiritual support to the refugees
that entail human resources, finance and mobilization of the refugee community. This spiritual
support is offered through meetings, sessions, trainings, and religious masses and mostly during
the social and sports events organized by Tushirikiane Afrika Trust.
Publisher
University of Nairobi