Investigating the Causes and Possible Solutions of Divorce in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Although the United States has the highest divorce rates of any Western nation, divorce rates have been increasing in almost all European countries and Africa, especially in Kenya. The main objective of this study was to explore the causes of and the possible solutions to divorce in Nairobi. The study sought to identify causes, examine the consequences of divorce and determine the possible solutions to divorce in Nairobi City County. The research was exploratory in nature with qualitative methods of data collection forming the core of the study. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the line of specific objectives. This task was complicated by the fact that issues of marriage and divorce are very sensitive matters and therefore, not many people like to discuss their private life with strangers. The study revealed that there are a lot of issues that cause divorce or marital dissolution. These are: education and employment among women or wives, different education levels among couples, employment among couples, infidelity among spouses, young immature individuals getting married, interference from in-laws and other dependent family members, misunderstanding or conflicting opinions, financial instability or poverty, cultural issues, domestic violence, marital rape or sexual abuse, infertility, barrenness and drug abuse among others. The study further revealed that the consequences of divorce mostly as poverty and psychological problems like stress. The possible solutions to divorce are majorly communication, guidance and counseling, incorporating religion into marriage, worrying about the welfare of the children, sharing of events such as celebrating each other’s events as birthdays, promotions and having a weekend getaway together. The study recommends that couples should come up with their own ways of managing issues or solving problems and not emulate what others do as marriages and people are different. Couples should save for sustainability of the family. Couples should respect and love each other, this way conflicts tend to be minimal. Couples need to communicate with each other whenever they have a problem and try to transform the conflict for the better instead of carrying over grudges that ultimately causes buildup of issues that eventually lead to conflict just to name but a few.