President Ruto's declaration allows Africans visa-free travel to Kenya.
Immigration is becoming a hot topic in many countries around the world. US President Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to it and is going gung-ho on migrants. The deportation of illegal migrants from the US to most countries is still going on. Kenyans in the US are equally affected.
The conversations around the issue of illegal immigrants and economic migrants, particularly from the South to the wealthy northern hemisphere, still rages. Most of the people smuggled on small boats are interchangeably described as illegal migrants or economic migrants. The latter, however, is a misunderstood concept as there are economic migrants who arrive lawfully in other countries as skilled workers and make positive contributions in the host countries with their expertise.
Illegal migrants, on the other hand, are the bone of contention. These are people who rely on people smugglers to help them cross borders in search of a better life or, in some cases just to ‘sponge off’ other countries’ welfare systems, according to nationals of the countries affected.
This has sparked a lot of angst among natives, particularly in Western European countries inundated with illegal aliens. Boatload upon boatload turn up on European shores ferrying illegal migrants daily. The argument that majority are fleeing persecution is negated by the fact that the majority of the migrants pay thousands of US dollars to be smuggled into Europe, for instance. “If they can afford hefty fees to pay people smugglers, they can afford to stay in their countries”, is something you hear constantly in Europe.
Illegal migrants
While Europe was initially open to supporting illegal migrants through the EU’s humanitarian policy, it has become overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. An initially compassionate approach is now turning to anger as the natives in many European countries feel that they are losing their countries to illegal migrants, while their cultures and way of life have become compromised by insecurity with public services struggling to cope. Illegal migration is also leading to the rise in far-right groups in Europe and this is slowly influencing politics across Europe and the US.
Despite the disquiet among Europeans, the political class is still dragging its feet on the issue of illegal migration despite the majority of the natives being against the settlement of migrants in their towns, cities and countries.
The UK, for instance, despite having one of the best naval forces in the world and even having been successful in repulsing Somali pirates thousands of miles away in the Indian Ocean islands, has failed to stop the inflow of illegal migrants’ small boats in the English Channel. The issue of illegal migrants in Europe has thrown two issues into the air.
One is that of corruption, where thousands of dollars is spent in hosting them in hotels without sufficient financial checks. The other is whether officials in many countries are turning a blind eye and working with people smugglers for financial gain. Is it possible for people smugglers to thrive without the involvement of government officials?
Another issue is that of voting. One is inclined to wonder whether illegal migrants have in fact become the new ‘swing State’ and are useful to the political class when it comes to voting, despite the detrimental effect illegal migration has on communities and despite the resistance from affected communities.
The issue of illegal migrants being the new ‘swing State’ is what makes me question the motive behind President Ruto’s declaration of allowing Africans visa-free travel to Kenya. The crucial question to ask is whether the President has the power to open the country to all and sundry? I believe his declaration on migration is motivated by the 2027 General Election. He has already given the green light for Somali refugees to gain Kenya’s national ID cards, something that has raised eyebrows. Kenyans are asking why now?
The fact that migration seems to be decided by a leader of a country rather than Parliament or citizens, makes any declaration on migration by President Ruto suspect, where technology can easily be used to influence voting patterns. Kenya and the US were in fact, embroiled in voting scandals in 2017/18, when Cambridge Analytica (A UK tech company) was accused of manipulating voting patterns in the two countries, hence, ‘subverting the will’ of the people.
Migration policies and use of public funds to support projects in opposition areas or wars, therefore, must be open to scrutiny and public participation due to their impact on the citizens of a country.
National security and pressure on public services are things that the citizens are most concerned about, and it is only fair to get their input. Migration’s impact on democracy is also a concern. It is important to consider quality over quantity. Would it not be better to offer citizenship to wealthy investors who can create jobs than opening the country to criminals and vagabonds from every country?
Ms Guyo is a legal researcher, [email protected], @kdiguyo
