| dc.description.abstract | Violence in the family (referred herein as domestic violence) has been on the increase in many parts of the country and extreme cases reported in the local media. The frequency and the magnitude of this problem has never been established due to the fact that many cases go unreported. For many years, such matters have been kept secret to the family and few clan members. Women and children have been the main targets of this out-dated practice and are more exposed to violence both within and outside the family for some reasons. Though women are the victims of this violence, men have also been abused in many ways. There is need to look at violence because if it is not checked at the initial stages, it may lead to serious consequences such as murder, permanent injuries, separation and divorce.
There are some socio-cultural and economic factors enhancing domestic violence. Institutions such as the school, state and the church have gradually stripped the Kipsigiis family of some of its traditional functions and responsibilities such as providing informal education and treatment. On the one hand, the state has undertaken to provide education in kindergartens, schoolsand other forms of education. Schools and health institutions such as the dispensaries, hospitalsand other centres have taken an increasing role in maintaining the health of children and no longer leave these matters entirely to the individual family. This results in the introduction and infiltration of new social values that causes conflict of disruptions of traditional lifestylesof the people. The issue of the inheritance of the family property is currently sensitive amongthe Kipsigiis and has contributed to disputes amongst family members. This is because, accordingto Peristiany (1964), properties like land and livestock, which were in the hands of men (and women in the female headed families) were divided and inherited equally by the sons
accordingto the number of wives in polygynous families unlike nowadays where members stand
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as individuals and not as a unit. Those properties were traditionally valued as major sources of wealth.
Conflicts or disagreements in the family simply show, on the one hand, that there exist some differences in some fundamental areas of live between the couples including background, upbringing, training and temperament. According to Adei (1991: 94) every couple, despite the illusion of mutuality of interest, start their relationship with sufficient difference which may ruin their marriage, divorce being the result of an extreme form of unresolved conflict. Therefore the success or failure of a marriage depends to a greater extent on the couple's ability to resolve their disagreements or conflicts. On the other hand, conflicts in the family tend to bring into the open certain blind spots in relationships which cry for attention and correction. Intentionally hidden agendas (secrets), assumptions and other behaviours concealed during courtships and which emerge or come to light after marriage form the basis of conflicts or disagreements in the family mainly amongst couples. However, different types of violence and conflicts originate from
within and outside the family and or from the vagaries of nature such as diseases and death. This study explores the causes, nature and levels of conflict in the Kipsigiis family.
Ogburn (1964) asserted that the prime mover of social change is technology (material culture) and that the nonmaterial (family, religion) elements adjust to it after a time C culture lag'). He saw the modern family as 'losing its functions' because industrial production took place
in factories, education in schools, religious training in churches. This process has brought socio economic interactions in forms of formal education, trading and intermarriages between the Kipsigiis and her neighboring communities the Abagusii, Luo, and Agikuyu. The interactions have had profound effects on the traditional and general lifestyles of the former. This has also
exposed some family members to new ideas which are adopted either partly or wholly. Social
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change occurs due to innovations (Mbula, 1977) and inventions which are usually accepted into culture. People change their day-to-day behavior in order to accommodate a new device. Often, the new ways such as education, clothing, houses, food and moral behavior. There are also complexities in social change that are likely to manifest themselves as tensions and strains. This made Moore (1969) to view change as producing tension.
Social change and other social transformations that have occurred around the world due to the processes of industrialization and urbanization have put a lot of pressure on the social systems such as the family to undergo certain changes in a bid to maintain their equilibrium. As is shown in the thesis, social change is the process by which alterations occur in the structure and functions of a social system and it consist of three stages, namely, inventions, diffusion and consequences. Indeed, invention is the process by which new ideas and practices are created, whereas diffusion is the process by which those ideas are communicated. The consequences are reflected in the changes that occur due to adoption and or rejection of the innovations. The above occur from one society to another as a result of 'freedoms' which have seen interactions infiltrating the family. However, it is the suddenness of the changes that has weakened the family bonds resulting in tensions or conflicts on the human relations and in the functions of a social system. These have affected the stability of social systems. In addition, domestic violence has a direct impact on the national development in terms of the cost to the health care system and time and resources spent on the cases and many hours of productive work lost as victims nurse their injuries. This study has utilized social change theories, culture change and modernization for its theoretical framework.
This study was carried ~out in Kericho district amongst the Kipsigiis community. The
study used exploratory techniques to facilitate full understanding of the causes, levels, nature of
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conflict, their interpretations and consequences. Qualitative methodological approaches were utilized. In-depth interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted. A total of 190 respondents were interviewed.
Various hypotheses were tested during data analysis. The study confirmed that conflict is dependent on income of the family members (especially of women and children and religion). As is shown in Chapter 4, many traditionalists believe that divorce must be made traumatic and difficult in order to protect families from the social disorganization.
The study also established that the prevalence of conflict and violence in the family is high (67.4%). The findings also show that conflicts and violence are prevalent in the family throughout married life; in the early, middle and later years and happen everywhere and at any time of the day or night. They happen both in towns and villages. There is nothing traditional for violence against a particular group either women, men or children. It is not traditional, for
instance, for women to be violently assaulted. It is worth-noting that men who are the main
perpetrators of battering behaviour have found out that women are suitable targets for their anger and aggression and for along time women have learnt to endure it. Battering, which is viewed in some African communities as a measure of discipline, is a reign of force and terror and once it begins in a relationship, it gets worse and more frequent over time. This inhumane practice happens due to the fact that masculinity is identified with physical strength, power, aggression and violence whereas femininity is associated with humbleness, caring, loving, endurance, tolerance, acceptance and perseverance. This does not exclude women who, in turn, release their temper on their children. However, women are beginning to organize themselves against
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