Kenya has long positioned itself as a leader in East African regional integration, championing the free movement of people across borders. Yet, despite its outward commitment to regionalism, Kenya’s domestic policies on immigration and refugee management tell a different story—one marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities. This contradiction is at the heart of a new policy paper by Michael Mutava, a research fellow at the New South Institute (NSI), and has been the subject of his recent engagements with the media.

In a co-authored article for The Conversation Africa, Mutava and Alan Hirsch, leader of the Migration Governance Reform in Africa (MIGRA) program, explore Kenya’s dual role in the region. They argue that while Kenya has made significant strides in lowering barriers to movement within East Africa, it struggles to implement coherent immigration policies at home. For instance, the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system, intended to replace traditional visas, has sparked confusion and undermined Kenya’s previous visa-free arrangements with several African countries. This misstep reflects a broader issue in Kenya’s approach to migration: a tendency towards ad hoc, reactive policies that fail to address the complexities of modern migration.

The article also delves into Kenya’s troubled refugee policies, highlighting how fragmented laws and inconsistent enforcement have left refugees in a state of uncertainty. Despite Kenya’s history of providing refuge to those fleeing conflict in neighboring countries, recent policy shifts have made it more difficult for refugees to access work and integrate into society. This ambivalence allows the government to project an image of humanitarian leadership on the international stage while simultaneously capitalizing on domestic anti-migrant sentiment.

Mutava further elaborated on these issues during an interview on KUTV Kenya, where he discussed Kenya’s migration landscape in detail. He traced the country’s liberal approach to migration back to its colonial and post-colonial history, which fostered a multicultural society tolerant of foreigners. However, he pointed out that this openness is now being undermined by poorly implemented policies. In particular, he criticized the eTA system as a step backward for African integration, arguing that it has replaced clear visa processes with a system that is both confusing and exclusionary.

In addition to his television appearance, Mutava also gave an interview for the radio program Africa Rise & Shine, hosted by Aurélie Kalenga and published by Channel Africa, the international radio service of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. This interview, which aired on August 23, provided another platform for Mutava to discuss the complexities of Kenya’s migration policies and the implications for the region.

These media engagements have been crucial in bringing attention to the findings of Mutava’s research. The NSI report, “An Analysis of Migration Governance Frameworks in Kenya,” offers a comprehensive assessment of the country’s migration policies and provides strategic recommendations for improving governance. For those interested in exploring these issues further, the full article is available on The Conversation Africa, and Mutava’s interviews can be viewed in full on KUTV Kenya’s YouTube channel and listened to on Africa Rise & Shine via Channel Africa.