Psychosocial complaints of wives of military personnel on peace keeping mission: the Kenyan case

Abstract

This study was designated to explore the psychosocial complaints of wives of military personnel on peacekeeping mission. The study was considered significant in that it was the first of its kind in Kenya. Although Kenyan Armed Forces first participated in peacekeeping operations in 1979 in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) where a small Kenyan Army contingent was developed within the auspices of the Commonwealth, no study has been carried out to determine how the wives of the Military Personnel left behind are coping in the face of their husbands' absence. A survey research design was used for the study. The sample for the study was composed, drawn from two Armed Forces camps, namely the Moi Air Base and the Langata Barracks. These were used to represent the Air Force and the Kenyan Army respectively. On the whole wives of Military Personnel on peace mission took part in the study. An attitude scale and a questionnaire formed the instruments for data collection. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. The findings show that wives of Military Personnel on peacekeeping mission are beleaguered by a number of psychosocial problems among which are loneliness, fear that the husbands might loose their lives during the mission, children missing their fathers and lack of guidance and counseling on how coping could be achieved. Implications of the study were drawn and some recommendations were made to influence the review of military peacekeeping policies in favour of these wives.