Abstract:
The core intent of this study was to analyze the practice of investigating
child sexual abuse cases by police officers in Kwale County, Kenya. The objectives of the
study was to; analyze the capacity of police on investigations of child sexual abuse,
provide an analysis of Kenya legal provisions on investigations of child sexual abuse
cases and to investigate the effectiveness of child sexual abuse victim management
programs on investigations of child sexual abuse. The Integrated Theory of Sexual
Offending and Social Disorganization Theory were employed in the study for the
theoretical framework explanations. The study utilized descriptive design. The target
population consisted of police officers of all ranks within the County. The officers
composed of all ranks both senior officers and junior officers present in the county. The
study utilized both probability and non-probability sampling design in selecting the
sample. Simple random sampling was used in probability design to sample junior officers
consisting of Senior Sergeants, Sergeants, Corporals and Police Constables. In nonprobability design purposive sampling was used to sample the senior officers involved in
conducting criminal investigations especially those related to sexual offenses. The study
used the questionnaire method as an instrument to collect data which consisted of
questions items formed from the research objectives, questions, and hypotheses. The
study used qualitative and quantitative data analysis technique during his study. The
study noted that majority of the respondents cited that they had not acquired any clear
formal training for child protection services apart from the basic police training.
According to the response, majority of the response cited that they disagree that law on
protection of rights of children is in effective in Kenya.The study recommends that
programmes on awareness should be adopted to educate the residents of Kwale County
2
on the realities of the girl child sexual abuse and the long-term and the short term
ramifications to the child as well as the whole community
