Factors Influencing Increase Of Gender Based Violence In Narok County: A Case Of Majengo In Narok Town

Abstract

Gender Based Violence, in its various forms, is endemic in communities around the world, cutting across class, race, age, religion and national boundaries. Exposure to gender-based violence and sexual coercion are significantly increasing despite of many interventions addressing the same. The purpose of this study was to examine Factors influencing increase of GBV in Majengo Estate in Narok Town. The study was guided by the following objectives: to find out how discriminatory cultural norms influence increase of Gender Based Violence, to investigate whether family poverty influence increase of Gender Based Violence, determine whether weak community sanctions, laws, and policies against GBV perpetrators influence increase of Gender Based Violence and to evaluate whether lack of information and education influence increase of Gender Based Violence. The study utilized descriptive survey design. The accessible population was 500 residents of Majengo Estate in Narok Town from which a sample of 10% (50respondents) of the total population were obtained for the study. The researcher used simple random sampling to select the sample that represented the whole population. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used during data collection from respondents. Data collected was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. After data collection, editing was done, then coding to facilitate data entry into the computer system to facilitate analysis. Excel spread sheet was used to compute the frequencies and percentages. This enabled the generalization of the results. Results were presented using percentages, frequencies, tables and charts. From the summary of the findings, it was found that the majority of the respondents agreed that in many African communities, Male are perceived as final decision makers at home and have dominance over women a risk factor to GBV. The study also found that rigid gender roles, definition of masculinity that are linked to male honor, economic inequality between men and women, and the use of physical force for conflict resolution, weak community and legal sanctions promotes GBV. It was also found out that majority agreed that lack of access to education, information and services especially for women and girls increases the vulnerability of them to various forms of violence. The study concluded that most respondents agreed that indeed discriminatory cultural norms influencing increase of Gender Based Violence where even the church and other religious or spiritual institutions have also contributed to the reinforcement of dominant gender roles, further condoning the spousal abuse of women. Power struggles existing between men and women appear to be significant in the perpetration of GBV in homes. The status of women and children is undermined as a result of entrenching economic inequality, which further exacerbates Gender Based violence. The study recommends that one of the key activities in addressing GBV is creating awareness about the issues surrounding it. Gender training, information and communication campaigns are crucial to raise awareness of gender-specific issues in humanitarian settings including access to food, land and other productive resources, health care, social and legal services, education and economic opportunities, as well as participation in decision-making processes. The study results would be of great benefit to help community members in Narok County region to know the major determinants increasing GBV, know how they can work together in order to have effective interventions aimed at preventing GBV, build on local systems and structures to ensure solutions to GBV are community owned. It was further meant to help the County officials and all other stakeholders to have programs which must go beyond raising awareness and contribute to community driven behavior change.