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Item Regional Trade Stratagem Influencing Kenya’s Diplomatic Engagements within the East African Community Paradigm(Riara University, 2025-11-03) School of International Relations & DiplomacyMany countries around the world use economic diplomacy to exert their influence. Kenya is a major economy in Africa ranking currently among the biggest economies in East Africa Community. It’s robust economy and advanced infrastructure development compared to other neighboring states has earned her the title “the Gateway to Africa.” While many studies explore Kenya’s economic growth, few interrogate its efficiency as a tool for economic diplomacy in the EAC. This necessitated an urgent inquiry into strategies on how to interrogate the influence of regional trade stratagem on Kenya's diplomatic engagements within the East African community paradigm. The specific objectives include, to analyze the effect of trade policies on Kenya’s strategic diplomatic engagements in the East African Community Paradigm, to examine the influence of economic partnerships on Kenya's strategic diplomatic engagements within the East African Community Paradigm, to identify challenges facing Kenya's diplomatic engagements within the East African Community Paradigm and to suggest strategies to enhance Kenya's diplomatic engagements within the East African Community Paradigm. The Interdependence, Neoliberal and Neo-Marxist theories guided the study. This study used exploratory research design. The target population included Kenya’s Ministry of Trade and Industrialization with Key Informants from other departments. The study used purposive, stratified and random sampling methods. Qualitative data was collected through desktop reviews and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), while questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from the respondents. SPSS was used as the statistical tool and quantitative data analysis was done through descriptive statistic using frequency, percentage and presented in tables. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data and was presented in narration and verbatim format. The study found that trade policies (b=0.245, p<0.001), economic partnerships (b=0.278, p<0.001), and strategic approaches (b=0.289, p<0.001) played a significant role in promoting Kenya in the EAC, whereas the persistent challenges (b=0.236, p=0.001) like tariffs and logistical barriers acted as a limit to progress. The study concludes that Kenya has its regional influence based on good policy alignment, economic integration, and strategic partnerships. The research recommends that Kenya enhances policy harmonization with EAC protocols through strengthened implementation of trade facilitation instruments, regional value chain development, and export competitiveness frameworks and should deepen bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation by institutionalizing structured engagement with EAC partner states and diaspora economic networks. For further research, the study recommends a comparative study across EAC member states and sector-specific analysis of economic diplomacy and as well the need to explore the role of non-state actors in regional diplomacyItem Efficacy of Digital Diplomacy in Advancing the Economic and Cultural Pillars of Kenya’s Foreign Policy(Riara University, 2026-05-15) School of International Relations & DiplomacyGlobally, digital diplomacy has increasingly emerged as a critical instrument through which states pursue strategic, political, economic, and cultural objectives within the contemporary international system. Although the practice of digital diplomacy has existed for decades, the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies in the 21st Century has significantly transformed diplomatic engagement, attracting growing scholarly and policy attention. Among the state actors actively embracing this transformation is the Republic of Kenya, which since 2014 has made substantial investments in digital diplomatic tools, platforms, and communication strategies aimed at advancing its foreign policy objectives and enhancing its global diplomatic presence. Despite the growing body of literature on digital diplomacy, much of the existing scholarship remains largely generic and insufficiently contextualized within Kenya’s Foreign Policy environment. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to interrogate the efficacy of digital diplomacy in advancing the economic and cultural pillars of Kenya’s Foreign Policy. The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the efficacy of digital technologies: assess the efficacy of digital platforms; evaluate the influence of social media platforms; and to investigate the efficacy of digital communication, in advancing the economic and cultural pillars of Kenya’s Foreign Policy. The study was anchored on Neorealism and Soft Power theories. The study adopted a mixed research approach, incorporating both the qualitative and quantitative aspects. The population for the study was the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs fraternity. Primary data was collected through 17 in-depth interviews with purposely selected, pro-rated and sampled informants across the 14 directorates of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs as well as experts and scholars in international relations, to enrich the currency of the study and an analysis of specific digital diplomatic initiatives. The source of secondary data for this study was government speeches and reports, and other academic papers that refer to digital diplomacy. Data analysis was done in frequencies and themes and patterns for qualitative data drawn from respondent interviews. The study findings showed that while more than 50% mentioned training was inadequate, 70% and 65% respectively mentioned increased efficacy and stronger cybersecurity measures. Ther was a wide adoption of digital platforms (portals with 77%, global visibility with 76%, and virtual summits with 36%). The study also found social media as an appropriate tool with 94%, 83% and 88% respectively acknowledging it use in foreign policy, greater transparency, and use in crisis communication. A minority, 30%, mentioned the presence of social media SOPs. The third component, digital communication tools, was found to be effective with endorsement of real time messaging and improved translation at 95% and 70% support respectively. The challenges identified by the study and opportunity for recommendation include more training, capacity building, institutional support and coordination, and standardised protocols and operational frameworks.Item LAPSSET Infrastructural Initiative and Economic Security Stabilization in the Horn of Africa Region [Master’s thesis, Riara University].(Riara University, 2026-05-06) School of International Relations & DiplomacyLocated in the Horn of Africa (HoA), the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) infrastructural initiative was conceived in 1975 as a strategic resource for spurring economic growth and stabilization of a region historically riddled by both ecological fragility and ideological conflict. However, for several decades the initiative remained lull, until 2012, when it was revamped with the mandate of: decongesting the port of Mombasa and the Northern Transport Corridor in Kenya; and spurring regional integration between Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia, through infrastructure development and trade. Despite its strategic importance, the initiative has encountered persistent obstacles, including; inadequate institutional coordination, limited regional inclusivity, and uneven implementation across participating states. From the lenses of regionalism, the LAPSSET infrastructural initiative was conceptualized as a narrow plan, aimed at integrating only the tripartite states of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, as opposed to a multifaceted approach for integrating the greater Horn of Africa - a geostrategic region plagued with infrastructure deficits, violent conflicts, humanitarian crises, economic shocks and instabilities. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of the LAPSSET infrastructural initiative on economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa region. The general objective was to investigate the effect of LAPSSET infrastructural initiative on economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa region. Specifically, the study sought: (i) to evaluate the effect of the conceptual design of the LAPSSET infrastructural initiative on economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa region; (ii) to examine the effect of the economic security imperatives of the LAPSSET infrastructural initiative on economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa region; and (iii) to assess the effect of the regional coordination mechanism of the LAPSSET infrastructural initiative on economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa region. The study was anchored on the theories of regionalism and complex interdependence. A descriptive research design was adopted. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using the semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered to 15 LAPSSET stakeholder institutions in Kenya. Qualitative data was targeted from selected border community representatives in Moyale and Lodwar sub-counties, as well as from key informants from the Ethiopian and South Sudan Embassies in Kenya, using moderated focus group discussions and open-ended key informants interview schedules, respectively. Additional key informants were also targeted through the LAPSSET cooperating facility in Kenya. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with multiple regression analysis used to determine relationships among variables. The findings revealed that all three components significantly influence economic security stabilization. The regional coordination mechanism had the strongest positive effect (B = 0.476, p < 0.001), followed by conceptual design (B = 0.412, p < 0.001) and economic security imperatives (B = 0.363, p < 0.001). However, the results also indicated persistent weaknesses in institutional coordination, implementation capacity, and regional policy alignment. This study concluded that, while the LAPSSET has considerable potentials for bolstering economic security stabilization in the Horn of Africa, its effectiveness is constrained by governance and coordination shortcomings. Therefore, refining the conceptual design of the LAPSSET, improving institutional integration, and strengthening of regional coordination frameworks, are critical for maximizing the initiatives stabilizing impact.Item The Interplay between Global humanitarian Policy and the Implementation of the Integrated Settlement Scheme in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya(Riara University, 2026-05-15) School of International Relations & DiplomacyGlobally, humanitarian policy has been progressively adopted as a guiding framework for integrated refugee settlement. Within the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Kenya has accommodated the most substantial refugee population over the past three decades. In 2015, Kenya integrated global humanitarian policies by establishing the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement within the Kakuma refugee camp, with the specific aim of addressing the region's enduring humanitarian crisis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between global humanitarian frameworks and its localized implementation for refugee integration in Kalobeyei is currently underdeveloped in the academic literature. This investigation was designed to achieve three specific objectives: first, to investigate the mechanisms through which global humanitarian policies are integrated within Kenya's local refugee integration frameworks; second, to evaluate the structural factors within Kakuma that influence the adoption of global humanitarian policies in the local refugee integration scheme ,and the third is to assess the implications of domesticating global humanitarian policies on local refugee integration frameworks within Kakuma. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks of liberal institutionalism and constructivism, the study utilized a mixed-methods approach. It involved 165 respondents, comprising 99 refugees, 61 household heads, and 5 key informants affiliated with humanitarian and governmental organizations. Data collection included the administration of questionnaires through surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Regarding the first specific objective, the findings indicated a universal awareness of global humanitarian policies among respondents. However, the comprehension of these policies was noted to be inconsistent and primarily disseminated via local forums, humanitarian personnel, and administrative channels. Study findings on the second specific objective revealed that, a higher proportion of respondents (38.1%) indicated enhanced funding for social services as a priority, (28.4%) indicated the importance of more robust legal safeguards, and (26.1%) considered access to work permits as a pivotal factor for successful integration. These perspectives highlighted advancements in infrastructure, markets, education, and social services, yet also revealed discrepancies between the operational frameworks of humanitarian and county systems. Study findings on the third specific objective three revealed that (23.5%) of respondents perceived their participation in governance and decision-making platforms as genuinely substantive. This limited engagement appeared to be attributable to factors such as established institutional hierarchies, ambiguities in mandates, and insufficient feedback mechanisms. The study concludes that unless integrated refugee settlement schemes are anchored on inclusive governance, equitable service delivery, strengthened livelihood opportunities, legal protections, and meaningful community participation, they risk reproducing marginalization, weak social cohesion, unequal access to resources, and unsustainable refugee integration outcomes. The study recommends, fortifying institutional support to facilitate inclusive decision-making processes; broadening livelihood initiatives that cultivate cooperation between host and refugee communities; and establishing community-level mechanisms capable of effectively contextualizing global norms.