The effectiveness of police gender desks in addressing gender based violence: a case of Nyandarua County - Kenya
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Date
2016-11
Authors
Ndungu, Wanjohi Albert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Police gender desks were established in the police stations of Kenya to address the gender based
violence (GBV). This study assessed if the police gender desks were effective in addressing
GBV. To achieve this, the study established if the gender desk environment was GBV survivor‟s
friendly, it also examined the services offered at the police gender desk, explored the challenges
encountered by the gender desk and identified the best strategies of addressing these challenges.
The study used descriptive survey research design. It was conducted at Ndaragwa and Ol Joro
orok sub-counties in Nyandarua County. The study was guided GBV ecological framework. The
target populations were the survivors of GBV. The key informants in the study were the actors in
the GBV justice system such as the government officers (the Police officers, probation officers,
children‟s officers and the doctors) and the NGOs that advocated for gender equality. The GBV
survivors/relatives were sampled using snowball sampling. This was because most survivors of
GBV knew other GBV survivors and they helped the researcher to identify them. The survivors
were also sampled using purposive sampling where the researcher would be able to get their
contacts at the police station or/and the medical facilities. Simple random sampling was used to
sample the Children‟s officers, probation officers and the NGOs. The gender desk officers
(GDOs) were purposively sampled from the police stations in the two sub-counties. The data was
collected using the interview schedule, questionnaires and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
guide. The data analysis was done by classifying the data in the thematic areas of study.
Quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS. The study found that though gender desks were
expected to prevent and respond to GBV, they were not effective. The gender desk environment
was not conducive for the GBV survivors. The study highlighted the challenges facing the
gender desk and best strategies for addressing these challenges were identified. The study
recommended an increase in the budget allocation by the government and deployment of more
police officers and the formation of gender desk police unit among others. The results of the
study would be used to enhance policy interventions that would strengthen law enforcement on
the part of the police and improve the functioning of the police gender desks.
Description
A thesis submitted to the school of humanities and social sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in gender and development studies of Kenyatta University. November 2016