| dc.description.abstract | In Kinango, child marriage, sexual abuse, neglect and excessive child work on the girl child are dominant vices facing the girl child. The practice of child marriage is culturally and economically embedded. Most young brides - their average age is 12 - marry older men with more than one wife. Child marriage deprives them of education, thereby denying them an opportunity to extend their capabilities, develop skills, improve their livelihood, and increase their earning potential. Girls who have directly or indirectly experienced the effects of child marriage know that a lost education is one of the greatest sacrifices forced on young brides, resulting in extremely high drop-out rates: only 52.4% of Kinango girls complete primaryschool and the district literacy rate' of 57.5% falls below the national average of 61.5%.
Child abuse is still prevalent and a countrywide study showed that societal pressure starts at an early age, with 29% of girls and 20% of boys aged 13 years and below reporting one or more episodes of sexual harassment(N. Kilonzo, et al, Sexual Violence in Kenya: Setting the Research Agenda. Nov 2009). Up to 12,660 girls were sexually abused by teachers and 633 teachers were charged with sexual abuse in the five years covered by the study (Teachers Service Commission (TSC) report, 2010). In some cases, teachers abused as many as 20 girls in a single school before being reported (Ibid). Girls face greater risk of neglect and sexual violence.
The lack of estimation of the extent and nature of violence experienced by girls often hinders the process of designing strategies for ensuring they are protected and have access to their rights. The existence of gender based violence in Kinango District denies girls the opportunity to attend school, participate effectively, compete and enjoy quality education. Violence and abuse being prevalent at schools is a major hindrance to the education of girls and negatively influences school performance.
This study was undertaken in order to generate an overall understanding of the forms, nature and extent of violence to girls in Kinango District and assess the impact of the gender based violence on the education of girls. The study adopted combination of both the quantitative and qualitative research methods will be utilised to address the study objectives. The quantitative aspect comprised of structured questionnaires which sought to elicit standard information across the district to be studied.
The data collected provided information on the prevalence and scope of violence among girls. To gauge how the different forms of violence impacted on the girls, to understand the causal factors for violence and to document ongoing interventions, the study bent towards descriptive and participatory methodologies which included the use of Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews.
The findings of the study show that girls, undergo a variety of violence which impacts adversely both on their retention and their school completion. The study further discusses what can be done to prevent violence and what can be done to protect children both as an immediate action and as a long term measure. Key in the causes of violence is the mental and psychological framework of the perpetrators who abuse ~ or force down authority to commit acts of violence. Often they use the cover of 'culture' to justify the atrocities. The strategies for changes therefore have to be multi targeted, reaching the perpetrators, the victims,institutions be they cultural, school or home. A deeper examination of the broader policies that provide the justice framework lor dealing with violations is needed. Because of the whole embracing nature of violence, a holistic approach is required. | en_US |
