| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to explore factors responsible for violent criminal offences in Nairobi. This was prompted by the high levels of violent crimes in the country. Additionally, the social and economic implications of violent crimes both to the individual victims and the social at large warranted this study. The objectives of this study were to find out the socio-economic factors responsible for violent crimes, to establish the victim-offender relationship, to ascertain the social setting of violent crime and to assess the violent offenders' views regarding the use of violence.
Respondents for this study were persons who had committed violent criminal offences and were serving prison terms either in Kamiti maximum prison for men, or Langata women prison: Primary data was collected from a total of 150 respondents from the two prisons, and eight key informants, mainly prison staff from different departments. Secondary data was also utilized to strengthen and compliment the study. A standard questionnaire was used to collect information from violent criminal offenders while an interview guide was used to gather information from the key informants. Data was collected through face to face interview while some respondents requested to answer the questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences.
The study findings indicate that engagement in violent crime is more of a reaction to a need rather than a deliberate decision to cause harm/ pain to human life. The need to make ends meet, alongside a desire to attain a better standard of living predisposes individuals to violent crime. The findings points out that violent crimes are generally carried out by persons in low socio-economic strata as manifested by the offenders' unskilled and semi-skilled occupations and low incomes. Secondly, that persons brought up in violent backgrounds are likely to engage in violent crime later in life. Thirdly, that violent crime occurs between persons that are acquainted to each other as well as among strangers. Regarding the social setting of crime, the study findings indicate that homes and streets are the main hunting grounds for violent criminals.
The results showed that the offenders engaged in violent crime for various reasons; however, .the need for money was the outstanding reason. Other respondents attributed their engagement in violent crime to anger and influence of drugs. The study concludes that most respondents due to relative deprivation. Individuals with low incomes are likely to experience relative deprivation. Relative deprivation is not the simple situation of having nothing. Rather, it is the injustice to which it gives rise to, when an individual compares him/herself with others. Therefore the study concludes that it is relative deprivation that has led many individuals to turn to violent crimes not only to make a living but also to access a better standard of living accessed by others in the society
The study recommendations were that: the government should employ every effort to create employment for its citizens. This is because engagement in violent crime is not a personality problem. In deed, engagement in violent crime is a result of the offenders' struggle for survival. To bring violent crime down, preventive as opposed to curative measures are more plausible. Engagement in gainful employment will facilitate increased incomes alongside an improved standard of living, thereby limiting opportunities for idleness and frustration. This will not only boost the economy but also decrease government's expenses of maintaining congested prisons. In addition, the gap between the rich and poor should be checked. This is because the poor who may not afford their basic needs and wants may engage in violent crimes to get them from those who have in this case the rich.
Further, the government should concentrate more on rural development in a bid to create more employment opportunities in the rural areas. This will in turn reduce rural urban migration by the youth who seek employment opportunities in urban areas. Additionally, the government should intensify community policing among its citizens. The police in turn should maintain high confidentiality, in order to encourage citizens to volunteer information to the police. Finally, the government should also intensify highway/street patrols and lighting to discourage violent crime along the highways as the study found that highways are prone to violent crime. | en_US |
