ABSTRACT
State intervention strategies undertaken to manage domestic violence in Vihiga County of
Kenya remain a challenge due to recurring domestic violence offences. The justice system
has lapses in enforcing the law on domestic violence in Vihiga County despite the law
enforcement by the state. The study revealed gross human rights violations, perpetration
and manifestations of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence against
household individuals in Vihiga County. The overall objective of the study examined state
intervention strategies in the management of domestic violence in Vihiga County, Kenya.
The Specific objectives examined the nature and extent of domestic violence, assessed
state intervention strategies in dealing with domestic violence and evaluated the
challenges encountered by the government in combating domestic violence in Vihiga
County, Kenya. The research was informed by a conceptual framework, liberal peace and
feminist theories that were instrumental in literature review, identification of study gaps
and compilation of the findings. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative
research techniques in data collection and analysis. Descriptive research design was
employed to examine state intervention strategies in the management of domestic violence
in Vihiga County, Kenya. The study sampled 400 respondents using random and
purposive sampling. The study sample comprised of 338 Household heads randomly
sampled while purposive sampling was applied to get 4 Court Officers, 4 Children
Protection Officers, 41 Assistant Chiefs and 13 Police Officers who took part in the study.
Closed-ended 5 point Likert Scale questionnaire, interview and FGD guide was employed
for data collection. Qualitative data was thematically cleaned, coded and analyzed while
quantitative data from questionnaires was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Science (SPSS) and Excel then presented in frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts in
accordance to the study variables. Cronbach’s alpha was used to validate research
instruments on content and reliability valued at 0.79. The study established that domestic
violence was commonly perpetrated to male, females and children in families in Vihiga
County. The existing law enforcement strategies and institutions have challenges in
providing justice to victims and prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence in Vihiga
County. Both constitutional and non-violent conflict management strategies were used in
combating domestic violence by the law enforcers and the community. The findings show
that domestic violence legislation has challenges due to lack of institutional records,
ineffective forensic investigation due to lack of equipment and qualified personnel,
corruption, failure of witness to provide information, escape of perpetrators, compromise
of law enforcers and community elders during arbitration. Technology, illiteracy, poverty,
aggression and patriarchal practices were cited as factors contributing to family violence
in the study area. The study recommended Vihiga County Government to effectively
enforce domestic violence laws and protocols to prevent domestic violence in Vihiga
County. The findings revealed domestic violence was common; lapses in legislation of
family laws by enforcement institutions prompting personnel training needs to enhance
integrated proactive human rights based approaches for effective management. The
government should restructure the legal framework on domestic violence offences to
protect citizens against family violence in Kenya. The findings therefore filled the gap on
state intervention strategies in the management of domestic violence in Vihiga County,
Kenya. The study recommended for the need effective interventions strategies that
encompass individuals, community leaders, government officials and non-governmental
organizations in preventing and addressing domestic violence in Kenya. The study
contributed to state intervention strategies in the management of domestic violence in
Vihiga County, Kenya.
, N & AINEAH, J (2021). State Intervention Strategies In The Management Of Domestic Violence In Vihiga County, Kenya. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/state-intervention-strategies-in-the-management-of-domestic-violence-in-vihiga-county-kenya
, NGUTU and JARED AINEAH "State Intervention Strategies In The Management Of Domestic Violence In Vihiga County, Kenya" Afribary. Afribary, 07 May. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/state-intervention-strategies-in-the-management-of-domestic-violence-in-vihiga-county-kenya. Accessed 09 Nov. 2024.
, NGUTU, JARED AINEAH . "State Intervention Strategies In The Management Of Domestic Violence In Vihiga County, Kenya". Afribary, Afribary, 07 May. 2021. Web. 09 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/state-intervention-strategies-in-the-management-of-domestic-violence-in-vihiga-county-kenya >.
, NGUTU and AINEAH, JARED . "State Intervention Strategies In The Management Of Domestic Violence In Vihiga County, Kenya" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 09, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/state-intervention-strategies-in-the-management-of-domestic-violence-in-vihiga-county-kenya