Analysis Of Practice Of Investigating Child Sexual Abuse Cases By Police Officers In Kwale County, Kenya

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