Influence of Socio-economic Factors on the Desire to Migrate Through Illegal Human Trafficking: a Case of Moyale-Ethiopian Migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia Border

Abstract

Human trafficking is a widespread problem with estimates ranging from 140,000 to 500,000 individuals trafficked around the world annually. Statistically about 80% of trafficked individuals are women and girls. According to the international law against human trafficking, the exploitation of people of any race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is unacceptable at any time, in any place. This study focuses on the influence of socio-economic factors on illegal human trafficking in Moyale, Kenya-Ethiopian border. The objectives of the study will include: to explore the influence of level of employment on illegal human trafficking of Moyale-Ethiopian migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia border, to examine the influence of level of education on illegal human trafficking of Moyale-Ethiopian migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia border, to assess the influence of language on illegal human trafficking of Moyale-Ethiopian migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia border, to examine the influence of government policies on illegal human trafficking of Moyale-Ethiopian migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia border and to identify the influence of gender role on illegal human trafficking of Moyale-Ethiopian migrants on the Kenya-Ethiopia border. The study is grounded on four theories: Neo-Marxist dependency theory, geographical determination theory, elite theory and cultural theory. The target population of this study entails 300 documented human trafficking victims in Moyale. The sample size entails 169 victims determined by the use of Fischer’s formula. A descriptive survey research design is adopted for the study. The study focused on collecting primary data using a structured questionnaire and key informant interviews. The structured questionnaire collected quantitative data from refugees while the key informant interview gathered qualitative data from government officials. Validity of the research instruments is determined by content and construct validity while reliability of the research instruments is determined by internal consistency method. The researcher collected qualitative data herself while three research assistants helped in collecting quantitative data. Data collected is analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collected is coded based on parametric and non-parametric groups. SPSS version 21 is used to analyze the data collected. Nonparametric data is analyzed using descriptive statistics such as measures of central tendency, variability and dispersion while parametric data is analyzed through correlation and regression.