The Nature and Scope of Protracted Refugee Crisis in Kenya with Specific Reference to Garissa County

Abstract

By the end of 2019, the UNHCR estimated that 42.5 million people had been displaced around the world. As a result, short- and long-term effects were felt in host communities, from humanitarian disasters to security threats. This study conceptualizes that the refugee issue and human security are inextricably linked. The statement of the problem was to bridge the knowledge gap by assessing the influence of the protracted refugee crisis on human security. Therefore, the goal of this research was to assess the nature and scope of the protracted refugee crisis in Kenya with specific reference to Garissa County. The New Security Paradigm and Critical Theory guided this research. A descriptive survey research design was used with a study sample comprising 339 household heads including refugees’ and community household heads, UN Refugee Agency staff, NGO officials, and County and National Government officials. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Secondary data was gathered from textbooks, newspapers, periodicals, and articles. Quantitative data was coded and put into SPSS Version 21.0, and descriptive and inferential statistics such as Pearson Correlation, Spearman Rank Correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze it. Qualitative data was analyzed based on the content matter of the responses. The study found that a variety of factors contributed to the long-running refugee issue. Civil conflict, lawlessness, high crime rates, and the search for greener pastures are among them. A positive and statistically significant link existed between prolonged refugee crises and refugee crises (r=0.885, p0.01). The study concludes that the main reasons for the refugee crisis in Kenya are push factors from their home countries, such as civil war, lawlessness, and high crime rates. The study recommends a need for measures aimed at reining in on the protracted refugee crisis and also enhancement of human security which can be achieved via funding to deal with deplorable living conditions in refugee camps.