Factors Influencing Intra Family Conflicts: a Case of Kikuyu Sub County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Today‟s families experience problems like unfaithfulness, violence, child molestation, divorce and separation. These problems experienced in families affect the intra family members. The purpose of the study is to analyse the factors influencing intra family conflicts and therefore it‟s carried out in Kikuyu Sub-county. Intra family conflict is prevalent in both developed and developing countries. It is a major constraint to development in many parts of the world. In Kenya, surveys on intra family conflict have been done in areas such as Nairobi and Machakos. In effect, there is need to study this vice in other parts of the country. This study employed the descriptive survey research design to determine factors influencing intra family conflicts under the study. The study sought to understand the factors influencing intra family conflict in Kikuyu Sub County. The objectives include: to determine the extent of access to resources and intra family conflict; to establish the relationship between the level of education and intra family conflict; to establish the exposure to conflict resolutions skills. Stratified and random sampling techniques were used to get the sample frame of the respondents. The research instruments used open and closed ended questionnaires and personal interviews. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS]. It is presented by using frequencies, percentages and cross tabulation because the data was descriptive. The study is expected to elicit useful data on the factors influencing intra family conflicts in Kikuyu Sub County Kiambu County. The study findings revealed that the income per year is too low since majority had a total income per annum of between 0 – 100,000 shillings. This low income may be causing intra conflict in the family. The findings also indicated that the families had many children and this may contribute to intra family conflict in the families. Majority of the respondents lacked conflict resolution skills and this therefore must be enhancing the occurrence on intra conflict among the family members in the study area. From the study findings and conclusions the following recommendations were made; the local administration and reconciliation bodies should underpin resource conflicts that exist in the families. They should also create empowerment forums so as to enlighten members of the society on equitable distribution of family wealth thus, reducing recurrence of intra family conflict owing to access to resources. Also the local churches and other stakeholders like the area chief should organize peaceful coexistence forums so as to enlighten the society on conflict resolution skills. The study suggested that study to be established on whether intra family conflict influences children‟s deviant behaviour.