EFFECTIVENESS OF EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN MANAGING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT MAJOR POINTS OF ENTRY
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The study assessed the effectiveness of East African Community immigration policies in managing human trafficking at major points of entry.
Problem statement: Regional integration has increased cross-border mobility, yet limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of EAC immigration policies in addressing human trafficking across prevention, detection, cooperation, prosecution, intelligence sharing and victim protection.
Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methods design combining descriptive quantitative and exploratory qualitative approaches, targeting 150 respondents and obtaining 127 responses through stratified random and purposive sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, semi structured interviews and document review, with quantitative data analysed using frequencies and percentages and qualitative data analysed thematically.
Results: The policies were rated most positively in detecting victims and perpetrators, with 81.10 percent rating them highly effective or effective, and in promoting intelligence and information sharing, with 79.53 percent giving positive ratings. Cooperation among immigration authorities received a positive rating from 53.54 percent of respondents. However, only 27.56 percent rated the policies positively in preventing trafficking, while 48.82 percent considered them ineffective or highly ineffective. Investigation and prosecution were predominantly rated moderately effective by 60.63 percent, and victim protection was the weakest area, with 67.72 percent rating it ineffective or highly ineffective.
Conclusion: East African Community immigration policies were more effective in operational detection and information exchange than in prevention, prosecution support and victim protection, making the framework more responsive than preventive.
Recommendations: Partner States should strengthen preventive screening, harmonize operating procedures, expand interoperable intelligence systems, improve cross border investigations, train frontline officers continuously and establish adequately funded victim referral, protection and rehabilitation services.
Keywords: Immigration policies, human trafficking, points of entry, policy effectiveness, victim protection, East African Community
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