The Nexus Between National Security Concerns and Protection of Refugee Rights: a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

Globally the increased flow of refugees has become a global challange. More often than not the burden of accommodating the asylum seekers and migrants often falls on the host country and refugees’ bodies like UNHCR. With the influx of refugees into different countries, states continue to face external threats to their security. Under the intentional law, states have the obligation to welcome those seeking asylum. This often leads to a dilemma of protecting refugees and national security. As states take in asylum seekers, they have to ensure their national security is not threatened. The study hence was set out to investigate the Nexus Between Kenya's National Security Concerns and Protection of Refugees' Rights. The main objective of this study is to examine the Kenya government response towards the influx of refugees against competing for national interests such as security. the specific objectives will be to understand the complex relationship7 between7 the7 influx7 of7 refugees7 and7 Kenya’s7 national7 interest, to investigate the government’s response towards the influx of refugees in Kenya, to examine how the Kenyan government can better respond to refugees’ influx without overlooking refugees’ rights and compromising their national interest. The study is a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research designs where both primary and secondary sources of data was relied upon. The open door policy towards refugees adopted by Kenya has left it susceptible to terror attacks. This is because terrorist pose as asylum seekers and get into the country to carry out terror attacks. The Kenyan government holds the position genuine refugees are not a threat to the national security of the county.The study established the government of Kenya7 has7 in7 many7 instance7 raised7 security7 concerned7 that7 are7 linked7 to7 refugee’s7camps.