Policing Duties and Maternal Responsibilities of the Kenya Police Women Officers in Nairobi City County
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Date
2025-02
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite a rise in the total of women working in the police service, they remain underrepresented and underutilized within these institutions. It is important to remember that, even with the advancements in women's participation, policing duties remains one of the most gendered professions in contemporary society. This study aimed to determine how policing in Nairobi City County, Kenya affects the maternal responsibilities of women police officers. The following specific objectives were used: analysing women police officers' perceptions of organizational support for maternal responsibilities; assessing challenges women police officers face in balancing policing duties with maternal responsibilities and evaluating strategies for improving policing as a career to support women officers' management of maternal responsibilities. Feminist and organizational socialization theories were utilized. The cross-sectional survey design was applied, with women police officers as the target population. A multistage sampling technique was applied, with clustering of the constituencies and wards, and purposively sampling them. Stations in the wards were simple random sampled. Stratified sampling was utilized to get the officers in groups of junior, commissioned officers and the gazetted officers. Participating police officers purposively sampled. Questionnaires and an interview guide were the instruments of information collection. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically, while quantitative data was examined by use of descriptive statistics of percentages, averages, means, and pie charts. The study found that, there are four women police officers' perceptions of organizational support for maternal responsibilities: organizational support as being minimal and unsatisfactory, the appreciation of the structured maternity leave policies that are aligning with labor laws, organizational support was being hindered and disrupted by the men who are dominated sector, and that the inception of the service was with less consideration to women Police Officers' Maternal Responsibilities. The study found that, there are four challenges Women Police Officers Face in Balancing Policing Duties with Maternal Responsibilities: Cultural Gender Expectations of a Weak Sex, High Workload and Stress Levels, unpredictable Work Schedules and Inadequate Maternity and Childcare Support. The study found that, there are four strategies for improving policing as a career to support women officers' management of maternal responsibilities: Adoption of Flexible and Practicable Working Arrangements in Various Stations, the Implementation of NPS tailored Maternal Friendly Policies, Sensitization Programs on Maternal Responsibilities for NPS Senior officers and Anti-Discrimination Measures Against Pregnant Senior Officer Trainees in The Various Police Training Colleges. The study concluded that, minimal Organizational Support that despite structured maternity leave policies aligning with labor laws. The study recommended that, the NPS should implement tailored policies, such as predictable shift schedules and non-operational duties for women officers during critical maternal phases.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master in Security Science and Management in the Department of Security, Diplomacy And Peace Studies of Kenyatta University, February 2025.
Supervisor
Gerald Mutonyi