Review of Characteristics of Behaviour Change among Children at Risk in Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres in Nairobi County, Kenya
Abstract
The aim of this study was to review characteristics of behaviour change among children at risk in juvenile
rehabilitation centres within Nairobi County, Kenya. The target population was all the children and managers of
Juvenile rehabilitation Centres in Nairobi County. It consisted of 380 boys, 160 girls, 8 managers in Kabete and
Getathuru and 4 managers in Dagorreti rehabilitation Centre, making a total of 552 respondents. Children at risk
in Juvenile rehabilitation Centres within Nairobi County were sampled using probability and non-probability
sampling methods. To obtain a practicable sample from the target population, convenience, purposive, stratified
random and systematic random sampling methods were used respectively. Questionnaires, interview schedules
and focus groups were used in the study as tools for data gathering. Data gathered was entered, coded and
analyzed using inferential statistics and SPSS. The qualitative data was organized, analyzed and reported into
emerging themes. The study established that rehabilitation of children at risk in Juvenile rehabilitation Centres
was not sufficiently addressed and it was only those children with severe and profound cases whose
misbehaviours transformed to moderate levels. Educationists were left out during assessment, classification and
in general, the behaviour change process despite their rich expertise in rehabilitation. The researcher
recommended a multidisciplinary approach in behaviour change process. That is in Educational Assessment and
classification of children at risk to specifically cater for the Children’s special Needs in Education. That the
government of Kenya moves all the Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres from Ministry of Labour and Social Services
and be placed under the Ministry of Education which has adequate personnel required to rehabilitate a child.