Assessing the Effects of Kenya Legal Provisions on Investigations of Child Sexual Abuse Cases within Kwale County

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.