Mechanisms of Curbing Smuggling of Food Commodities from Uganda into Busia Town, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue XI, November 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Mechanisms of Curbing Smuggling of Food Commodities from Uganda into Busia Town, Kenya

Daniel Munyoki Nduti¹, Rev. Sgt. (Rtd). Dr. Elijah Onyango Standslause Odhiambo^2
1Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government in Kenya
²Department of Peace and Conflict Studies Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya

ABSTRACT
Smuggling is a global phenomenon which is quite complex due to its complex operations and the diverse commodities involved. The means by which commodities cross the border is the main issue that makes the cross border trade illegal. This illegal trade is common on the Kenya-Uganda Busia border town. The objective was to evaluate the mechanisms put in place to curb cross-border smuggling of food commodities from Uganda influencing socio-economic status of households of Busia town, Kenya. The study utilized human needs and transnationalism theories to examine cross-border smuggling of food commodities from Uganda influencing socio-economic status of households of Busia town, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Stratified sampling technique was used to arrive at 8 strata, namely that of transporters, local residents, traders, trade agents, hawkers, revenue collectors, opinion leaders and that of government officers. Sample sizes of 193 respondents were selected from these strata and they were arrived at through census, purposive and snowballing sampling methods. Data collection instruments were Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), interviews, observation and questionnaires and secondary data through document analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistics while qualitative data involved thematic and content analysis. The findings of study indicate that the social and economic effects of smuggling have both positive and negative effects on individual households, depending on the outcome in relation to an individual’s engagement in the activity. The study recommends that Kenya and Uganda governments work in collaboration come up with friendly policy on trading in food commodities so as to reduce illegal trade of food commodities.

Key Words: Border, Cross-Border, Economic Status, Food commodities, Smuggling, Socio-economic Status

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Current global trends such as the growing interdependence between states and the opening of borders, which exist alongside socio-economic, cultural, legal and political inequalities, facilitate the activities of smuggling. Smuggling activities are also facilitated by different drivers of corruption, including: political corruption, foreign bribery in supply countries, corruption in licensing and concessions, timber ‘laundering networks’, judicial corruption and weak due diligence on the part of financial institutions. Smugglers are known to rely on bribery and corruption in order to establish close links with senior government officials or politicians in order to enhance their political protection and access to government information. They also take advantage of differences in legislation, legal systems and traditions, which often seriously hamper state efforts to respond adequately to the threat of organized or trans-border crimes (Luna, 2008).

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