Effectiveness Of Institutional Frameworks In Addressing Gender Based Violence In Selected Kenyan Public Universities

Abstract

Kenyan, like any other country in the world is plagued by gender based violence (GBV), especially against women and girl children. GBV is seen as a sensitive issue to engage in, is shrouded in silence, data is lacking, which together have all led to complacency and inaction at individual and societal level. Educational institutions in Kenya and elsewhere have suffered in equal measures. Kenya Demographic Health Survey does not capture data on GBV within higher learning institutions of Kenya despite its epidemic scale. Additionally, the implementation of policies aimed at addressing GBV in high learning institutions of Kenya is uncertain. The policy recommends mainstreaming of policies that address GBV at all education levels, establishing modalities for dealing with GBV and developing of a framework for curbing GBV. The current study sought to investigate the effectiveness of institutional frameworks addressing gender based violence in universities in Kenya this is because statistics indicates that cases of GBV are on the rise in Kenyan universities. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the nature of GBV, examine the effectiveness of institutional frameworks in curbing GBV and evaluate the challenges facing university frameworks to curb GBV in selected Public Universities in Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design and proportionate stratified random sampling approach was be used to select study participants. The study used all the public universities as study population from which five universities were sampled out. Deans of students, registrars in charge of academics, health facility workers, gender department, security department, guidance and counseling department and students were the main informants in this study. Structured questionnaires were administered to a simply random sampled 384 students and 30 purposively sampled members of staff. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages used to assess the nature of GBV and challenges facing institutional frameworks to curb GBV. Correlation was used to examine the effectiveness of institutional frameworks in curbing GBV. The study found out that there are various forms of GBV that exist in public universities. Some universities have institutional frameworks to address GBV issues but they are not effective due to some challenges as found in this study. The findings of this study may guide in the formulation and implementation of institutional frameworks on GBV as it may also address factors that sustain GBV within such institutions with a view to minimizing GBV in Kenyan public universities. The beneficiaries of findings of this study include university students, university managers, policy makers and interested parties in gender studies.