State Intervention Strategies In The Management Of Domestic Violence In Vihiga County, Kenya

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.