Family Participation in Alleviating Insecurity in Umoja I Ward of the Nairobi County
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Date
2019-01
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Despite Umoja 1 ward of the Nairobi County drawing up of the strategic plan (2014-2018) which included decision to combat insecurity, no concrete strategies were put in place to address the concern. This study sought to find strategies the family unit could adopt to alleviate insecurity in study area for sustainable social transformation. The objectives of the study were to identify the sources of insecurity, find out what roles the family unit could undertake to alleviate insecurity, reviewing conditions that hindered the family unit from playing an effective role in alleviating insecurity and proposing workable strategies that could be put in place to enable the family unit play an effective role in enhancing security in the study location. The descriptive research design involving both quantitative and qualitative research methods was used to access the data using focus group discussion guide and questionnaires as research instruments. The study target population was 373 families living in Umoja 1 ward. Based on Krejcie and Morgan sampling size table, 180 participants constituted the study size obtained through purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The data was analyzed through the use of Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study found out that, lack of security education and formation, exclusion of the family in security matters, laxity by security enforcement agents, unemployment and weakening of the family values constituted sources of insecurity. The study found out that, individuals as well as the institutions within the society ,including the family had a role to play in alleviating insecurity in Umoja 1 ward; especially through joining Nyumba Kumi, training the children on security matters, putting security measures in their locality, enhancing collaboration with the neighbors on security matters, reporting insecurity incidences to the concerned agents and sharing of vital information with security agents constituted important family unit contribution to security. Rampart security breaches which were reported and never resolved such as robbery with violence, house breaking, muggings and abduction constituted of conditions that hindered the family from playing an effective role in enhancing security. More specifically, ignorance on security matters, lack of employment, high levels of poverty, technological challenges and corruption was noted as critical hindrances to the family ability to contribute towards sustainable security. Further, the study found out that, civic education, training on security matters, use of social media, use of creative arts, information sharing with the security agents and enhancement of legal frameworks constituted key strategies that could be used through the family unit to contribute towards sustainable security. The study recommended that, there was a need for inter- ministerial action plan whereby, the ministry of Education should develop a curriculum on security matters targeting the upper primary classes up to tertiary level, while the ministry of Interior and internal coordination should come up with integrated system of communication that allows for effective and efficient systems of communication and sharing on vital information to security agents. Finally, the government to take a facilitative role in helping the civil societies effectively participate in alleviating insecurity through civic education. The implication of these findings provided a roadmap towards security paradigm shift, where security planners would consider, prescribe and assign proactive roles of security to the family. The way forward was to come up with pro-activities that translated the study findings into concrete actions which involved, but not limited to; providing educational seminars, visibility campaigns, advocacy, further research and legal adaptation with a view of enhancing responsibility and accountability by all those that insecurity reality affects.
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Keywords
Family, Alleviating, Insecurity, Umoja I Ward