“I am Going Home”: How Kenyan Migrants’ Intentions to Return Home Affect their Transnational Engagements

Authors

  • Jane Njeri Mwangi University of Ghana
  • Alex Boakye Asiedu University of Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14426/ahmr.v3i3.837

Keywords:

Transnational activities, Remittances, Investments, Return visits, Kenyan migrants

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine how Kenyan migrants’ intentions to return
home influence their participation in transnational activities like sending
remittances, investments and return visits. In this study, our focus is on
Kenyans living in the UK, USA, Canada and Ghana. A concurrent mixed method
approach was used in data collection and analysis. This included a web survey
of 212 respondents, 21 in-depth interviews and 5 focus group discussions.
Most (89%) of the respondents intended to return to Kenya before retirement
but difficulty in finding well-paying employment, insecurity, corruption,
citizenship issues and reintegration uncertainties were seen as obstacles to
return. Incentives for return included a better economic and political
environment, improved security, good governance, employment and
investment opportunities. Overall, the study revealed that migrants’
intentions to return home had an influence on their participation in remittance
transfers, investments and return visits. Cross tabulations, odd ratios and chi
square logistic regression analyses showed that intentions to return had an
influence on migrants’ investments in entrepreneurial ventures and financial
instruments, as well as the frequency of return visits to Kenya.