KENYAS REALIGNMENT OF MIGRATION POLICY TO THE EAC FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS PROTOCOL: FROM COMMITMENT TO COMPLIANCE

Although partner nations are obligated under the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol to gradually remove obstacles to the free movement of people, there exist significant differences in the degree to which these treaty requirements alter national migration policies. This article examines Kenyas immigration policy realignment trajectory through the EAC free movement of persons requirements,focusing on whether reforms have moved the system from nominal commitment to substantive compliance. Neo-functionalism, liberal intergovernmentalism, and realism serve as the theoretical foundation for the approach,which highlights the conflict between integration spillovers, the creation of domestic preferences, and persistent worries about sovereignty. Empirically, the study uses a mixed methods approach guided by a positivist paradigm,surveying 349 officials and practitioners from key non-state actors, the EAC Secretariat, and Kenya’s core migration governance institutions. SPSS was used to analyse 264 valid responses in addition to thematic analysis of primary informant interviews and documentary data. Based on Common Market Provisions incorporated into the Constitution of Kenya 2010, alongside the 2011 Immigration and Citizenship Act,Kenya has achieved significant front-end conformity with EAC obligations through visa-free admission for EAC citizens, the implementation of the e-passport, the formation of One Stop Border Posts, and the waiver of Class R work permits fees.