Determinants of Programme's Implementation in Kenya; a Case of Child Protection Programme in Malindi, Kilifi County

Abstract

Child Welfare Information Gateway (2012) defines Child neglect as a form of child maltreatment, a deficit in meeting a child's basic needs including the failure to provide basic physical, health care, supervision, nutrition, emotional, education and/or safe housing needs. Society generally believes there are necessary behaviours a care giver must provide a child in order for the child to develop physically, socially and emotionally. Causes of neglect may be from any of the parenting problems which includes and not limited to mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, unemployment, unplanned pregnancy, single parenting and poverty. Child neglect depends on how a child and society perceives the parents' behaviour; it is not how the parents believe they are behaving towards the child. According to Cawson, (2012), Parental failure to provide when options are available is different from failure when options are not available. Poverty often leads parents not be able to provide. The circumstances and the intentionality must be examined before defining behaviour as neglectful. Due to numerous problems and emergency issues associated with children abuse in the country today, the research sought to examine the determinants of programme's implementation in Kenya; a case of child protection programmes in Malindi, Kilifi county. The study is guided by four objectives that seek: 1 to examine the influence of socio-cultural practices in the implementation of child protection programme's in Malindi, Kenya. 2. To determine the influence of poverty in the implementation of child protection programme's in Malindi, Kenya. 3. To assess the influence of stakeholders in the implementation of child protection programme's in Malindi, Kenya. 4. To establish the influence of legal procedures in the implementation of child protection programme's in Malindi, Kenya. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. In the study a random sampling was used in accordance to the characteristics and elements the population possessed. Also, a census was done on the employees of the CPPs in Malindi. The population for the study included employees in the various child protection programs, in Malindi and the CPC staff including the manager, 3 social workers, 1 child counselor, 1 legal officer, and 3 interns. Also, included in the target population are the 129 head teachers of the primary schools in Malindi sub-county who are normally involved in either community solution of child abuse cases, reporting or processing of the child abuse cases at the initial and local levels or the CPPs and link this to the Child Protection Center (CPC) Malindi. This brought the target population to 225. A sample of 122 was drawn and representative of the population of study. A pilot study was conducted to check the instruments validity and reliability. Findings showed that: socio-cultural practices have influenced implementation of CPPs, with over 80% of the respondents pointed harmful traditions of child marriage, prostitution and girl child discrimination were rampant in Malindi sub-county. Findings showed that: Poverty influenced implementation of CPPs, 90% of the respondents cited poverty led to child labour, prostitution, marriage, and neglect among others. Findings further showed that: stakeholders influenced implementation of CPPs, 80% of the respondents cited stakeholders to include government agencies, NGOs, CBOs, police, health practitioners, parents and the children among others. Findings further showed that: legal procedures influenced implementation of CPPs, The cited included court adjournments, cost implications in seeking legal redress, corrupt officers and lack of witness protection. Based on the findings of the study the researcher made the following conclusions: Socio-cultural perceptions and practices must be reframed to support the child holistically. Interventions must be a priority to address poverty and urgent measures put in place to ensure fast and efficient juvenile-justice