Thesis:

Influence of digital technology on cargo security at the inland container depot of Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya

The study explored the influence of digital technologies on cargo security at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) of Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya, against the backdrop of increasing global trade volumes and the need for efficient, secure customs procedures. Despite notable investments in digital infrastructure, cargo theft, documentation fraud, and inspection inefficiencies continue to undermine trade facilitation efforts. This prompted the current investigation into how three key technologies—Integrated Scanning Solutions (I-Scan), the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), and the Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS)—contribute to enhancing cargo security outcomes. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of these digital systems in improving risk detection, surveillance, and customs coordination. The study was guided by three objectives: to examine the influence of I-Scan, RECTS, and ICMS on cargo security at the Embakasi ICD. The research was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which explains system adoption based on perceived usefulness and ease of use, and Game Theory, which analyzes how actors behave strategically under surveillance and enforcement environments. A descriptive research design was adopted, and the study was conducted at the Embakasi Inland Container Depot. The target population comprised customs officers, digital system operators, and enforcement agents, totaling 135 individuals. A stratified sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 101 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides. The reliability of instruments was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.814. Ethical approval was obtained from Mount Kenya University, NACOSTI, and institutional authorities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed that Integrated Scanning Solutions (I-Scan) significantly contributed to cargo security through high image clarity and non-intrusive inspections, with 42% agreeing and 21% strongly agreeing that high-resolution scans reduced the need for physical unpacking. A further 60% used scan clarity for validation, and 66% affirmed image clarity was reliable, while 65% preferred I-Scan due to its compliance with global standards. In terms of the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), 38% agreed and 20% strongly agreed that real-time updates minimized enforcement delays, with 65% acknowledging reduced tampering risks and 63% affirming the system effectively responded to cargo deviations. Moreover, 60% indicated alerts matched real-time risks, and 62% trusted RECTS data for consistent tracking. Lastly, the Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS) improved cargo declaration reliability with 62% agreeing it reduced fraudulent declarations, 60% noting fewer misclassifications, and 64% citing improved data accuracy. Additionally, 61% affirmed timely inter-agency sharing, 63% reported improved error detection, and 62% noted reduced clearance disruptions. These findings demonstrate that the adoption of digital technologies has transformed cargo processing and security enforcement at Embakasi ICD through enhanced accuracy, responsiveness, and inter-agency integration. The study recommends continuous training for customs officers to enhance system use, integration of I-Scan, RECTS, and ICMS into a unified platform for efficiency, and regular system upgrades to ensure reliability a