Influence of economic hardship on types of violent crimes among prisoners in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, violent crimes and economic hardship have increased positively during the last ten years and yet little data is available to explicate this connection. Violent crimes pose a threat to the individuals and groups, and impacts negatively on social, economic and political developments of many countries. They also tend to be the most feared than any other criminal typology and the factors associated with it yet remain unclear. Most crimes often end up in violence. The study aimed to understand the actual indicators of economic hardship that are responsible for this increase, especially during periods of economic downturn. It endeavored to find out the influence of economic hardship on types of violent crimes in Uasin Gishu County by identifying the types of violent crimes and establishing whether economic difficulties in making ends meet may be associated with violent crimes. Further, the study investigated whether frustration, fear, and anger are linked to types of violent crimes in Uasin Gishu County. Violent crimes studied included murder, rape, robbery, assault, and domestic violence. The study hypothesis stated that there is no significant relationship between difficulty in making ends meet and the types of violent crimes and that there is no significant relationship between levels of frustration, fear and anger among violent offenders and the types of violent crimes. The study was limited to adult violent crime offenders at Eldoret Main and Ngeria Farm Government of Kenya Prisons. Literature was reviewed following objectives, themes, and contents where necessary. Social Disorganization theory and Frustration- Aggression theory were adopted by the study. Descriptive research design was employed to collect data. From a target population comprising of 501 offenders, 217 prisoners were randomly sampled. Both key informant interview guide and structured questionnaire were administered to the representative sample. Data was collected and presented in percentages and links between variables established by use of Chi-square (× 2 ) and Pearson Correlation analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that there was a significant relationship between educational status and type of violent crimes (p=0.000); occupational status and type of violent crimes (p=0.004); household income and type of violent of crimes (p=0.000); frustration and types of violent crimes (p=0.004); level of fear of economic hardship and types of violent of crimes (p=0.000) and anger and type of violent crimes (p=0.010). The study concluded that economic hardship leads to violence and crime. Economic hardship creates feelings of hopelessness and anger, which may increase aggression and hostility. The study recommended that mechanisms be put in place to help minimize the number of violent crimes among offenders and these include compulsory education for children and youths, creation of job opportunities by the government, expansion of economic activities and guidance and counseling services be provided to more at-risk youths.