Abstract:
the paper is extracted from a study that sought to analyze the barriers to investigating child sexual abuse cases
by police officers in Kwale County, Kenya. The study was informed by Scientific Management Theory and
Structural Functionalism Theory. The study utilized descriptive research design. A sample size of 120 officers
was drawn from a target population of 361 within Kwale County. The study utilized purposive sampling then
simple random sampling from each cluster. 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. T-test was conducted to determine the
significance levels of variables. A majority (70.6%) of the respondents agreed that legal provisions affect
investigation of Child Sexual Abuse within the County with the Children’s Act, Sexual Offences Act,
Constitution of Kenya, and law on enforceability of children’s rights indicating very significant
levels(t=2.775,p=0.005, t=3.118,p=0.003, t=2.903,p=0.006, t=3.663,p=0.002). The study recommends that
lawmakers should come up with laws not only in papers but effective and updated enough to curb the vice.
