School of Arts and Social Sciences

THE NEXUS BETWEEN CHILDHOOD VICTIMIZATION AND JUVENILE OFFENDING, A STUDY OF SHIKUSA BORSTAL INSTITUTION KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

THE NEXUS BETWEEN CHILDHOOD VICTIMIZATION AND JUVENILE OFFENDING, A STUDY OF SHIKUSA BORSTAL INSTITUTION KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA MUSEMBI, JAPHETH MUSAU This study aimed at establishing the nexus between childhood victimization and juvenile offending on a social structural level. This study sought to meet the following specific objectives; to investigate the effect of family victimization on juvenile offending, to examine the effect of neighborhood victimization on juvenile offending, and to assess the effect of institutional victimization on juvenile offending. This study was conducted at Shikusa Borstal Institution in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study adopted the general strain theory to elaborate on the link between childhood victimization and juvenile offending. The research adopted a cross sectional research design. Mixed methods of data collection were utilized to collect qualitative and quantitative data. A sample of 198 juvenile delinquents was obtained through simple random sampling, and 26 heterogeneous key informants were sampled purposively and they included 1 officer in charge of Borstal institution, 5 probation officers, 5 Children’s officers 5 wardens, 5 teachers and 5 matrons. This study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires from the juvenile delinquents while interviews were utilized for key informants. Secondary data was obtained through a literature review of published journals, books, and written records. A pilot study was conducted at Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution to ensure the feasibility of the research, validity, and reliability of the research instruments to be used in data collection. The internal consistency of the questionnaires was analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient and a coefficient of 0.791 obtained. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0 for windows. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically and presented concurrently with quantitative data. Findings of the study revealed that family victimization and juvenile offending were significantly correlated (r=0.618; P<0.01) with regression analysis revealing a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.318 implying that 31.8% of the variance in juvenile offending in Kakamega County was attributed to childhood victimization. It was also established based on the findings of the study that neighborhood victimization and juvenile offending were significantly related (r=0.523; P<0.01) and linear regression analysis for neighborhood victimization and juvenile offending revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.219 implying that 21.9%% of the variance in juvenile offending in Kakamega County was a result of neighborhood victimization. In addition, it was revealed from findings of the study that institutional victimization and juvenile offending were significantly related (r=0.509; P<0.01) and linear regression between institutional victimization and juvenile offending revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.197 meaning that 19.7% of the variance in juvenile offending in Shikusa Borstal Institution was as a result of childhood victimization. In light of the study findings, it was concluded that childhood victimization had a significant effect on juvenile offending, where different forms of victimization experiences have different effect on juvenile offending In Shikusa Borstal Institution Kakamega County. The study recommends implementation of family-based interventions targeting childhood victimization risk factors, engage community support for at-risk youth, and adopt evidence-based interventions in schools to combat victimization. This study's findings expand knowledge on childhood victimization and juvenile offending, offering valuable insights for policymakers in Kenya and beyond.

THE NEXUS BETWEEN CHILDHOOD VICTIMIZATION AND JUVENILE OFFENDING, A STUDY OF SHIKUSA BORSTAL INSTITUTION KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ROLE OF INDEPENDENT PENAL MONITORING BODIES IN PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

ROLE OF INDEPENDENT PENAL MONITORING BODIES IN PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA. Chepkemoi, Yvonne This research examined the role of independent penal monitoring bodies in promoting best practices within correctional facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya. These monitoring bodies were established in compliance with international treaties and national legislation to address torture and ill-treatment within prisons. Prison monitoring in Kenya began in the mid-1990s, allowing civil society organizations and the media to oversee conditions. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights implements two important mandates: a watchdog over the government in human rights and advice to the country on the enhancement of human rights protection. The Commission on Administrative Justice receives complaints concerning abuse of power by prison officials and delays in the hearing of prisoners' appeals. The Kenya 2022 Human Rights Report, however, highlighted persistent issues within the prison system, including torture, violence, inadequate living conditions, and limited access to necessities. The general objective of the study was to establish the role of independent penal monitoring bodies in promoting best practices in correction facilities within Kisumu County, Kenya. The first objective examined the perspectives and experiences of inmates regarding the complaint resolution process by independent penal monitoring bodies, the second objective analyzed the strategies employed by independent penal monitoring bodies to promote best practices in correctional institutions, and the third objective identified the improvements in correctional management practices resulting from the collaborative efforts between the IPMBs and correctional institutions. Findings of the first objective revealed that inmates exhibited varying levels of awareness regarding their right to lodge complaints, necessitating targeted educational programs; the second objective highlighted the limitations in the strategies employed by monitoring bodies, emphasizing the need for more frequent and inclusive visits, transparent communication, and timely responses to complaints. In addition, the third objective showed that collaborative efforts positively impacted inmate rehabilitation programs, safety, and offender management practices. The theoretical grounding of the study lies in human rights theory, emphasizing prisoners' inherent rights; the due process model brings out the elements of constraints on the actions of prison staff and rational choice theory, providing insights into decision-making processes. The research design is descriptive, combining quantitative and qualitative data. The sample size of 362 inmates was calculated using Israel's formula. At the same time, purpose sampling was employed in the selection of key informants, who were four human rights officers, four officers in charge, and ten family members of inmates. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Science program to generate tables and figures. In contrast, qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis that grouped similar data content as per the research themes. The study concludes that while the monitoring bodies have made significant contributions, challenges remain in enhancing inmate participation, visit frequency, and communication. Recommendations include improving inmates' awareness of complaint procedures, fostering inclusive interactions, and institutionalizing collaboration between monitoring bodies and correctional institutions to ensure a human rights-based correctional system.

RANK-SHIFTING OF CLAUSES IN THE TRANSLATION OF THE ENGLISH HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION INTO DHOLUO BIBLE; MUMA MALER MAR NYASAYE (1976)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

RANK-SHIFTING OF CLAUSES IN THE TRANSLATION OF THE ENGLISH HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION INTO DHOLUO BIBLE; MUMA MALER MAR NYASAYE (1976) Owino, Colleta Akoth This study analyzes rank-shifting of clauses in the translation of the English Holy Bible New International Version (NIV), into Dholuo Bible “Muma Maler Mar Nyasaye (1976). The study investigates whether the translation process brings about a difference in meaning of the source language message into the target language message. The focus is on the terminologies in these rank-shifted words that influence their meaning. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: describe the categories of shifts in the translation of the English Holy Bible into Dholuo; analyze meaning loss or gain in the rank-shifted clauses translated from the English Bible into Dholuo; and finally, describe how the Relevance Theory accounted for the translation of these rank-shifted clauses. The analysis was limited to rank-shifting in the level of clauses utilized in the source language text which was translated into the target language. Data was collected from the source text, “The Holy Bible; (NIV)”, and its translated version “Muma Maler Mar Nyasaye (1976) by The Bible Society of Kenya. The data was analyzed using a descriptive method. The study population consisted of the sixty-six books in the Bible. A sample size of six books from the Holy Bible; New International Version was obtained from the study population using purposive sampling. The researcher analyzed 44 rank-shifted clauses. The results showed that four categories of rank-shifting emerged during the translation; unit shifts, structure shifts, intra-system shifts and class shifts. It was also established that both meaning loss and meaning gain occurred in the translation process. However, more loss than gain was experienced in the translation of these rank shifted clauses. The Relevance Theory informed the translator’s manner of translation to make the translation works much clearer and easy to understand. The results of this study have implications on, translators and interpreters, researchers, and biblical scholars since it would enable them to understand the cultural and structural differences between English and Dholuo and appreciate the role of the Relevance Theory in ensuring that translation work is done in such a way that it would be understood more clearly and easily.