Prevalence of Students’ Sexual Harassment in Secondary Schools in Nyamira and Kiambu Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Student Sexual Harassment (SSH) has become a pervasive problem in institutions of learning worldwide. Thousands of students are affected daily, regardless of their gender. Reports from both the electronic and print media attest to the presence of diverse forms of SSH in Kenyan secondary schools. However, there seem to be no clear investigative reports of the actual forms of SSH in secondary schools that can provide data critical in guiding any intervention strategies. This study sought to describe and explore the prevalent forms of SSH in selected secondary schools in Nyamira and Kiambu Counties, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised 23,659 students, 678 teachers, 88 Deputy Principals and 88 Coordinators of Guidance and counselling in schools. Samples were obtained through Purposive and Proportionate sampling techniques. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Researchjournali’s Journal of Education Vol. 7 | No. 3 March | 2019 ISSN 2347-8225 3 www.researchjournali.com Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while qualitative data were analyzed and presented in narrative form. Findings revealed that verbal sexual harassment was the most prevalent form of SSH harassment in schools. The study also showed that sexual harassment prevalence is not associated with school type. Further analysis revealed that most incidents of SSH took place in classes and sometimes even in unexpected places like the clothes line. The findings also revealed that most forms of sexual harassment were peer related. The study recommended active stakeholder involvement with a view to stemming sexual harassment in schools. Key Words: Sexual harassment, secondary schools, pervasive, prevalence, forms of sexual harassment