The Salience of Digital Literacy in Agentic Integration of Migrants in Refugee Camps in Kenya

Abstract

This paper explores refugees’ sense of agency on integration through digital literacy and the use of digital technologies in Kakuma refugee camp. The qualitative method involved content analysis analyses of semi-structured interviews conducted with 8 purposively sampled participants who reside in the camp. The analyses focused on the resources provided by mobile phone, computer and reading tablet and the life goals enabled by the technologies that enhanced refugees’ sense of agency in integration. The findings show that most participants use mobile phone more often than computer and reading tablet. From the analyses, three life goals emerged; social relationship, effective task performance and recreation. The study concludes that digital literacy and the enabled life goals provide opportunities for refugees to experience a sense of agency, belonging and wellbeing. Key words: Refugees, Agentic integration, Digital literacy, Digital technologies, Life goals