Immigration: Why Many Don’t Want to Move West | Hanifa Adan
Youth Resistance Emerges against Immigration Panic, Rebuilding Communities
Updated June 10, 2025
Amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric in Western democracies, a counter-narrative is emerging: many people want to stay in their home countries and fix what’s broken. Despite challenges like corruption, unemployment and repression, young people are increasingly seeing their presence as a form of resistance.
British Prime Minister keir Starmer recently said Britain was becoming an “island of strangers,” advocating for reduced immigration. Similar sentiments are echoed across the West, often dominating election campaigns and fueling public fear. However, this focus on borders often overshadows the reasons people choose to migrate.
While immigration has become a national obsession in the United Kingdom, with Reform UK and figures like Nigel Farage building political platforms around curbing immigration, data suggests a different reality. The Mo Ibrahim foundation reports that only a small percentage of migrants in Europe and North America are from Africa, with most African migrants staying within the continent.
In Kenya, high unemployment, public debt, corruption and repression contribute to the challenges citizens face. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported numerous enforced disappearances between June and November 2024. despite these issues, a growing movement is taking hold. The phrase ”Kenya ni home” (Kenya is home) has become a rallying cry, symbolizing ownership and a commitment to rebuilding.
Western countries make trade deals that gut local economies and extract resources, then act surprised when people search for alternatives
This sentiment extends beyond Kenya. In Bangladesh, university students launched protests in 2024 against a job quota system, demanding fairness. In Serbia, protests erupted after a railway station collapse exposed corruption and government negligence. Mozambique saw youth-led protests over alleged electoral fraud and declining living standards.
Critics argue that Western policies exacerbate the problems they claim to fear. Security deals with repressive governments, arms sales and trade agreements that undermine local economies contribute to instability. Additionally, slow action on climate finance disproportionately affects African nations, leading to displacement and migration.
Even global financial systems, like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), play a role. In Kenya, IMF loan conditions pushed the government to raise domestic revenue, leading to austerity measures and tax increases that disproportionately affect ordinary citizens.
What’s next
Despite these challenges, many remain committed to their home countries, believing they are worth fighting for. This growing sense of ownership and resistance suggests a shift towards rebuilding communities from within, challenging the narrative of immigration panic and highlighting the importance of addressing root causes of migration.