Effect of Environmental Conditions on Management of Juvenile Delinquent in Kiambu County, Kenya

Effect of Environmental Conditions on Management of Juvenile Delinquent in Kiambu County, Kenya

^1*Tobias Otieno Ouma., ²Prof. Eric Kiprono Bor. PhD., ²Dr. Samwel Auya. PhD

¹Department of Peace, Security and Social Studies

²Lecturer Department of Peace, Security and Social Studies Egerton University

*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8100085

Received: 01 October 2024; Accepted: 07 October 2024; Published: 06 November 2024

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine how environmental conditions affected the management of juvenile offenders at the rehabilitation facilities located in Kiambu County. Through the use of structured questionnaires, interviews, and targeted focus groups, information was gathered from 90 probation officers, 22 instructors, and 12 managers. The centres’ overpopulation, subpar accommodations, and unfavourable environmental conditions were found to be impeding the effectiveness of rehabilitation operations. Adolescents’ negative opinions of staff made matters worse. There is an urgent need for extensive programme reforms because over 93% of respondents thought the institutional environment was unfavorable. The study recommends modernizing rehabilitation programmes through the integration of life skills development, vocational training, counselling, and education will demand immediate action. For a programme to be implemented effectively, staffing and equipment shortages must be addressed. Furthermore, improving the institutional setting is essential to the juveniles’ effective recovery and ultimate reintegration into society.

Key Words: Environmental conditions, Juvenile delinquent, Rehabilitation Centres, Correctional System

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

There are several facets of the juvenile justice system that are affected by the prevalence of criminality among young people. It’s the involvement of young people typically those under the age of 18 in criminal or otherwise immoral behavior. Juvenile delinquency is a complex issue that calls for a range of responses, from prevention to intervention through aftercare (Church, 2017). When it comes to helping young people who have committed crimes get their lives back on track, rehabilitation services play a crucial role in promoting successful reintegration into lawful society (Murhula, & Singh, 2019).

Gordon (2023) argues that, contrary to popular belief, the treatment of adolescent delinquency has progressed from an emphasis on punishment to one that is more rehabilitative and restorative. According to Case and Bateman (2020), the criminal justice system has too often viewed juveniles as young offenders and punished them as severely as adult offenders in the past few decades. A paradigm change has happened, however, as society gains a better grasp on adolescent development and the root reasons of delinquency (Case, & Hampson, 2019). Juveniles are now seen as unique people who deserve guidance, care, and rehabilitation.  Counseling, education, vocational training, mental health treatment, substance addiction programs, and community-based initiatives are all part of the continuum of care provided by rehabilitation services for juvenile offenders. Services like these help young offenders get back on their feet and learn what they need to know to become productive members of society (Harris et al., 2021).

The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1861 in India mandated juvenile court proceedings be conducted separately from adult proceedings, and reformatories were favored over jails (Agarwal, 2018). This exemplified the state’s transition from a punitive to a reformist stance towards juvenile offenders. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (Kumar, & Singh, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015) is the result of revisions made to this Code over time. Rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society are emphasized in this contemporary strategy for dealing with adolescent delinquency. For the sake of India’s youth, the government passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in 2015. Any person under the age of 18 is considered a “juvenile” under the law (Lippman, 2017). It regulates the juvenile justice system; whose principal goal is to help young offenders become productive members of society again. Counseling, skill building, education, vocational training, and community-based programs are all part of the rehabilitation process (Aspacio, 2023). The goal is to increase youngsters’ sense of civic duty and decrease their likelihood of recidivism. Juvenile detention facilities have been established by the judicial system to provide a safer and more rehabilitative alternative to adult prisons by providing inmates with access to educational and vocational programs and counseling services. Instead of taking a punitive approach, it is important to determine what is driving the offending behavior and work to alter that instead (Raghavan, & Mishra, 2017).

For many at-risk adolescents in Africa, the juvenile court system is their last resort. There is an elevated risk of incarceration for children who are born into poverty, have unmet health care needs, are victims of violence, or spend time in foster care. Roughly 87,000 children and teenagers are accommodated in juvenile residential facilities annually, from short-term stays in foster care to indefinite stays in adolescent jails (Elrod, & Ryder, 2020). Ten thousand more young people are being held in adult correctional facilities while they await trial or serve sentences. Juveniles who have been incarcerated may face new difficulties upon their return to their communities, such as continuing their education, finding gainful employment, and coping with substance misuse and mental illness. All too often, individuals cycle back into prison or continue down the system (Mistrett & Thomas, 2017).

South Africa’s correctional system has made progress in adopting a more rehabilitative juvenile justice paradigm, in contrast to its punitive approach during apartheid (Schoeman, 2021). The Child Justice Act promotes alternatives to incarceration, treatment, and restitution for young offenders. Reintegration into society is encouraged and assisted through rehabilitation services such as education, skill building, counseling, and community-based programs (Menon, & Cheung, 2018). According to a report by Du Plessis (2018) titled “Optimising rehabilitation and unit management in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in the Bethal area,” the DCS has been concentrating on delivering programs aimed at altering the conduct of juvenile inmates. These programs provide educational opportunities for juvenile offenders, allowing them to complete their high school education. There is vocational training, where offenders learn a trade, and social education, where the emphasis is on instilling character to help young offenders modify their behavior to conform to societal standards and values. The study, however, highlighted unmet rehabilitation needs among Bethal area convicts, such as a dearth of vocational training and inadequate participation in rehabilitation programs. Staff shortages, a lack of resources, and a lack of training were named as some of the obstacles that prevent correctional facilities from providing good rehabilitation. Rehabilitative quality was thought to suffer when unit administration was only partially put into place (Ismail, & de Viggiani, 2018).

Concerns about youth justice come up again and again in East African countries that are next to each other but have their own laws and social structures. Tanzania’s laws, like Kenya’s, are meant to help young people who have been in prison become useful parts of society again (Kadilu, 2018). Two problems that youth prisons have are that they are too crowded and don’t have enough resources, which makes rehabilitation harder (Msoroka, 2018). In the same way, Uganda’s youth justice system is having a hard time because there aren’t enough juvenile courts and diversion programs (Mugabi, 2018). Uganda is still having trouble getting young people to court and rehabilitation programs, even though the country is trying to follow foreign rules like the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Uganda Law Society, 2018). On the other hand, Rwanda has made a lot of progress in helping people get better and rejoin society through community- and school-based programs (Rwanda National Police, 2019). Still, Rwanda’s juvenile justice system will have problems with funds and staff training for a long time to come (Nsanzimana, 2019). East African countries all want to lower the number of crimes committed by young people, but their youth justice systems need to be changed in different ways because of the problems they face.

Kenya’s youth justice system is based on the Children Act of 2001 and its later updates. Its goal is to help young offenders become good members of society again (Children Act, 2001; Decker & Marteache, 2017). Access to rehabilitation services, kid-friendly court processes, and the appointment of probation officers to look out for the best interests of juveniles are just a few of the things that show this commitment (Vaghri, Tessier, & Whalen, 2019). The system is in line with international agreements, focusing on the rights and care of children as spelled out in conventions like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Oduor & Nyaata, 2022). There are still problems like too many people, not enough money, and bad buildings (Asante, 2020), but people are working to fix them and make rehabilitation and reintegration programs a top priority. There is a complicated web of government agencies that oversees places like remand homes, rehabilitation centers, and children’s homes. The main goal is to help young offenders make a smooth return to society by giving them guidance, counseling, and educational opportunities.

Statement of the Problem

While Kenya have established restorative and rehabilitative justice systems in response to rising juvenile criminality, cases of juvenile delinquency are on rise. However, Kenya’s juvenile justice system has implemented numerous reforms in an effort to eradicate the underlying causes of juvenile crime. For instance, there exists a system of correctional and rehabilitation facilities with the purpose of rehabilitating juvenile criminals so that they can be productive members of society once again. The primary goal of these facilities is to care for and safeguard juvenile offenders and help them change their destructive behaviours.  Juvenile delinquent facilities include juvenile remand homes, which provide care for juvenile offenders while they await trial in a secure and nurturing setting that respects their individual liberties. Despite having access to all of these resources, the recidivism rate for juvenile delinquents is on rise leaving much to be desired in terms of the readiness and effectiveness of the programmes such as education, vocational training, psychosocial counselling, and overall positive behaviour change at the country’s rehabilitation and correctional facilities. But whether or not the schools can actually implement the programming in a way that helps juvenile offenders is an open topic. Many adolescents do not fully grasp the purpose of their time spent in rehabilitation until after they have returned to society. Hence, this study sought to assess the state of rehabilitation services on management of juvenile delinquency in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Objective of the Study

To explore the effect of environmental conditions on management of juvenile delinquent in Kiambu County, Kenya

Significance of the Study

1. The study aims to help government and prison managers understand the link between management and service provision in rehabilitation centers, promoting positive growth for juvenile delinquents in Kiambu County.
2. It may aid organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF by highlighting how management affects service delivery at probation centers, potentially increasing support and donations.
3. By scrutinizing current rehabilitative centers, the study seeks to explore their effectiveness in reforming juvenile offenders and reintegrating them as responsible citizens.
4. It addresses gaps in existing literature on juvenile reformation through probation services, laying groundwork for future research.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Environmental Conditions on Management of Juvenile Delinquent

The environment has a huge impact on how juvenile delinquency is handled. It affects both how often kids act bad and how well rehabilitation attempts work. At the center of this impact is the family, which is one of the most important parts of a child’s upbringing. Kamaluddin, (2022) point out that the way a family works can be a major cause of youth delinquency. Some of the things that can lead to criminal behavior are a lack of parental control, bad parenting, and not growing up in a safe place. Also, not having a stable family structure can make these problems even worse. This shows how important a stable and supportive family setting is for shaping a young person’s behavior and discouraging crime (Felson, 2017).

Aside from the family, the neighborhood and the larger community also play important parts. Keeley, & little, (2017) says that living in a city can be hard for young people in its own way. Concerns about the well-being of urban kids are very important, especially in places like Nairobi, Kenya. Both national and local governments need to do a lot to help. It is of the utmost importance that these cities have frameworks and policies that help protect the rights of children and young people. To stop young people from getting into trouble, it’s important to deal with the problems that come from living in cities.

In this area, parental participation and guidance are very important. Jepkoech, (2022) showed what happens when parents don’t help rehabilitate young people who have broken the law in Kenya. Effective communication, understanding, and unwavering family support are key factors that can have a big impact on a young person’s path to recovery. On the other hand, if parents don’t help with rehabilitation, it can make things worse. This shows how important parents are to the smooth reintegration of juvenile offenders into society.

Education is a powerful way to stop youth from doing bad things. Yeager. (2017) says that giving young people access to a good education gives them the skills, information, and opportunities they need to stay out of trouble. Educational efforts in rehabilitation programs boost this potential even more, giving young people a chance to build a better future and break the cycle of crime (Froy, et al., 2018).

Teenagers often act like their peers, which shows how important it is for rehabilitation programs to address peer relations. (Weinberger, 2019) Providing positive peer support and making sure there is a good peer setting can make a big difference in how well rehabilitation works and, in the end, how well juvenile delinquency is handled. Understanding and addressing these environmental factors as a whole are important steps toward making a society that helps its young people grow and develop, keeping them off the road to crime and toward a better future.

Theoretical Review

Rehabilitative Theory

The rehabilitative theory posits that individuals exhibit unique traits and experiences that influence their behavior, including risk factors such as lack of parental guidance, exposure to delinquent peers, or impulsive temperament. This model, rooted in positive criminology, asserts that with proper care and treatment, individuals involved in criminal behavior can be transformed into law-abiding citizens. It distinguishes traditional prisons, which focus on punishment and confinement, from modern rehabilitative schools, which prioritize treatment and rehabilitation to address the root causes of criminality.

Critics of the rehabilitative model argue that correctional treatments have limited impact on reducing recidivism rates among convicted offenders. Despite efforts to implement rehabilitative interventions, such as those seen in the California prison system, the effectiveness of such programs remains uncertain. Furthermore, the rehabilitative paradigm faces challenges in anticipating individual responses to rehabilitation, as personal, societal, and psychological factors complicate the reform process. Customizing rehabilitation programs to meet individual needs is challenging, and evaluating program success is complicated by the lack of common measures and success criteria.

The reformative theory has emerged as a response to the limitations of the rehabilitative paradigm, emphasizing evidence-based offender rehabilitation tailored to individual circumstances. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds, motivations, and situations of offenders, reformative approaches seek to improve rehabilitation outcomes and reduce recidivism rates. This theory acknowledges the complex interplay of social and environmental factors in the rehabilitation process, including socioeconomic status, community support, educational and vocational opportunities, and social stigma. By addressing these challenges, reformative approaches aim to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation initiatives and promote successful reintegration into society.

In conclusion, while the rehabilitative theory offers a hopeful vision of transforming offenders into productive members of society through treatment and care, it faces significant challenges and limitations in practice. The emergence of reformative approaches underscores the need for evidence-based, tailored interventions that address the diverse needs and circumstances of offenders. By recognizing the complexities of rehabilitation and incorporating empirical research into practice, reformative theory aims to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts and ultimately reduce recidivism rates.

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

The methodology chapter outlines a descriptive research design chosen for its suitability in collecting extensive survey data from a representative sample within Kiambu County’s rehabilitation centers. This design allows for a cross-sectional examination of attitudes and behaviors related to the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents, aligning with the study’s objectives to understand the nexus between management and service provision in these facilities. The selection of this design facilitates the collection of specific descriptions and characteristics from various stakeholders, including probation officers, welfare officers, vocational training instructors, and juvenile delinquents themselves.

The study area, Kiambu County, was selected based on its high crime rates among young people, as reported by the UNODC (2012), positioning it as a critical location for investigating the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. The population of interest encompassed individuals involved in the management and provision of services within three rehabilitation centers in Kiambu County, including probation officers, welfare officers, vocational training instructors, and juvenile delinquents. The determination of the sample size utilized systematic sampling methods, with a total of 124 respondents selected to ensure adequate representation from each stratum within the study area.

Data collection instruments comprised structured interview schedules, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs) to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. These instruments were strategically chosen to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding prison reformation processes. Interview schedules facilitated the collection of quantitative data from various stakeholders, while KIIs and FGDs enabled in-depth exploration of individual experiences and perspectives related to probation services and governance. The multi-method approach ensured the reliability and trustworthiness of the data collected, with triangulation of survey data with qualitative insights enriching the analysis.

Data analysis procedures involved both quantitative and qualitative techniques, with quantitative data analyzed using measures of central tendency and distribution, facilitated by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Qualitative data underwent coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes relevant to the research objectives. The results of the analysis were presented using narrative prose, tables, charts, and graphs, providing a comprehensive overview of the findings. Ethical considerations, including obtaining permissions from relevant authorities and ensuring participant confidentiality, were also addressed to uphold ethical standards throughout the research process.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Conditions favorable for rehabilitation for juveniles

The second objective sought to establish the favorable condition available for the Juvenile delinquent in Kiambu rehabilitation center. This was importance because in Kenyan Prisons there are several strategies that aim to reform and rehabilitate offenders in prisons. For instance, juvenile’s delinquents are offered formal and non-formal education. The inmates are also engaged in sports and other recreational activities for leisure and relaxation but there continue many juveniles under rehabilitation centres.

Effect of capacity on probation services

The current study sought to examine the effects of prison rehabilitation services on management of juvenile delinquent in Kiambu County, Kenya.  The staff members were asked to indicate the capacity of the institutions and the current population of the juveniles. The response was presented in table 4.1.

Table 1: Distribution of capacity and student population for the institutions

In terms of juvenile population among the prison schools, Kamae had the highest number of 378 juveniles but way up the expected capacity of 250. This was followed by Kamiti with a student population of 220 with an over population of 100 students.

From the focus group discussion, a prison welfare officer from Kamai RC indicated that the number of the juveniles delinquent was higher than the available facilities. It was never constant and kept on increasing sometimes up to 350. This was because many referral by the law courts and its status in the county.

According to a female senior probation officer, aged 57 years asserted that;

“..Managing high number of children is not easy given the limited number of staff especially class teachers and vocational training instructors. When the population is too high the staff members are overworked and facilities over stretched leading to poor management thus affecting rehabilitation process…”

The above sentiment implies that high capacity in rehabilitation centers directly influence the level of management of juvenile under probation services.

Availability of space/ accommodation facilities in Rehabilitation Centre

The sought to determine the effects of accommodation facilities in the rehabilitation process. The juveniles were asked whether there were facilities in schools. The response was presented in table 4.2.

Table 2: Availability of enough accommodation facilities according to schools

The study found out that all the rehabilitation schools were lacking adequate accommodation facilities specifically Kamae had inadequate accommodation facilities at 31% followed by Kamiti at 47%. This was the present situation despite the fact that all these centres are the oldest among the juvenile rehabilitation schools in Kenya (former approved schools).

From focus group discussion one of the personnel posited that accommodation facilities were not enough for the juveniles.  Additionally, most of the juveniles indicated that dormitories were very congested with sharing of beds. There are few classrooms forcing some delinquents to stay away. From physical survey, the buildings were old and with cracks on the walls/floors, and also leaking and rusted roofs.

One of the 14 years male juvenile from the focus group discussion claimed that;

‘… The classrooms are few   and we are congestion in the classes… Teachers are not able to mark all the books or supervise classes well, modern workshops are few while there were many of us taking mechanic, masonry and tailoring. We ona (you see or workshops) Workshops zetu ziko mbaya (they are in bad condition) hakuna stima (without electricity).

The above sentiments depicted the situation in both Kamiti and Kamai rehabilitation centres. This implies the state of poor management in rehabilitation of juvenile delinquent. Majority of the juvenile felt that much was need for effective process of rehabilitation in addition to teaching and learning.

Teachers and officers response on the effects of environmental conditions on the juveniles’ management

The teachers were asked to comment on whether the environmental conditions had affected probation services in the management of juvenile in Rehabilitation Centre. One of the 43 year make senior teacher claimed that;

“ welcome sir most of the juveniles here  from the streets or broken families and so when they join here  they find conducive environment which provided them with shelter, food, clothing and other basic necessities and therefore felt comfortable and some are ready to learn through our programmes”

This sentiment implied that Rehabilitation Centre were conducive to some juvenile and majority of the of officer felt that the environment was fit for education and more so rehabilitation of juvenile under probation programmes.

The juveniles’ perception about probation/welfare officers, teachers

The study sought to examine the juvenile perception about probation/welfare officer and teacher at Rehabilitation Centre. Using focus group discussion, many children reported negative perception about their staff.

“..Hawa mamode wanastahili kuwa friendly kiasi…our teacher should be friendly. They needed to be trained in dealing with the wanafunzi (students). They need to know how to deal with difficult children especially those in conflict with the law and listening to their issues on time…they should stop being harsh on us. They should have competencies and knowledge in the field of vocational training courses e.g. mechanic, masonry among others…” A 15 years old female juvenile claimed

The above assertion implies that some children have negative perception on teacher and welfare officer in the rehabilitation centres. Therefore, this affects probation services in the management of juvenile delinquents.

Juveniles rating of the teachers and probation officers level of competence

The juvenile were interviewed to rate the competence levels of their teacher and officer that handle them while in the institutions. The response was presented in figure 2.

Juveniles rating of the teachers and probation officers level of competence

Figure 2: Juveniles rating of the teachers and probation officers level of competence

According to the juvenile the staffs were good at their work at 25%, they were fair at 31%, very good at 3% and excellent at 12%. Majority of juvenile felt that their staff were fair because they were giving guidance and counseling, talking to them on any country news, giving assignments, training on life skills and responsibilities meaning they had developed trust in the juveniles. From focus groups discussion one of the juvenile commented that

 “… People used to tell us that staffs are harsh but it was not true, they respected us and treated us like other children out there”. “They are better than my parents at home because they used to abuse and beat me”. The staff are like parents and trying to make lives of the juveniles comfortable in the institutions. They were free to be consulted whenever there was need and helped the children by calling their parents to come for visiting or whenever they have any problems.

For those who rated the teachers as fair indicated that they were not happy because they were not frequent in classes as expected. They said that teachers were not listening to them but instead punished all even for small mistakes. They normally dismissed children for example when they needed entertainments.

Effect of institutional environment in reformation

To establish the effects of prison rehabilitation services on management of juvenile delinquency the respondents were asked to rate the physical and social institutional environment where they lived, and latter to commend on its suitability in reformation.

Figure 3: Favorability of Conditions in Juvenile Institutions

In response to this, 21% indicated that the environment was very un-favorable, 72% un-favorable, 5% favorable while 3% indicated that the institutional environment was very favorable.

The reasons given out by the 93% who felt that the physical and social environment was either very un-favorable or un- favorable were based on the same challenges they gave when describing conditions at the institutions. The respondents who felt that the physical and social environment was either very un-favorable or un- favorable also indicated that such environment cannot facilitate their reformation and rehabilitation back into the society because of inherent suffering. Thus the institutions have un-favorable effects on reformation of juveniles.

Responding to suitability of prison institutions in reformation of juveniles, a probation officer who was a key informant; Probation Key Informant-2 (PKI-2, 30 year old female probation officer II) observed:

“I think prison officers are generally trained to handle adults, they can’t fair well with the juveniles who mainly require guidance and counseling. Moreover prison conditions in Kenya are hostile for reformation of juveniles”

On his part a key informant from YCTC; Kamiti YCTC Key Informant- 4 (KYCTCKI -4, male, Welfare officer, aged 45 years) put aptly:

“Yes, the youth who come to us may go out unchanged due to several reasons. First we may not resolve what led them to crime which may be rooted in their families; to handle this may require deep psycho-social intervention. Two our programmes may not suite them well. For instance they need to continue with their education which we can’t guarantee because of capacity and other challenges. The youth also require home-like environment which can’t be here. Finally, the four months duration is too short for any meaningful impact. That is my opinion.

As if confirming this position of the key informant, the Daily Nation Newspaper of April 6, 2021 in a report titled ‘Shock as teen kills grandmother and surrenders himself to police’ detailed how a 19-year-old boy who was recently released from Shikusha Borstal institution, one of the juvenile institutions under prisons, killed his grandmother and carried her chopped head to a Kisumu Police Station.

These characteristics presented were confirmed by the key informants and focus group discussion members. Kamiti YCTC Key Informant- 1 (KYCTCKI -1, female 37-year-old probation officer) observed:

“We face challenges like other prison institutions in Kenya funded by the government. There are times when the institution is very overcrowded. The food, beddings and the clothing we offer are as per the funds we receive from the government.”

A focus group discussion member at the same institution; Kamiti Youth Corrective Training Centre Focus Group Discussion Member (KYCTCFGDM)-3 asserted:

“Our uniforms are torn, the mattresses are pathetic and some blankets are like rags, and you can’t sleep at night because of bedbugs.”

Previous studies that had been conducted in Kenya confirmed that similar challenges that are experienced in these juvenile institutions are also common in adult prison institutions. It has been established that the physical and social prison conditions are inappropriate for convicts’ rehabilitation.

Effects of lack of basic needs on the juvenile’s welfare

Using yes or no, the teachers were asked whether lack of basic needs influence juvenile stay in school.

According to one of the respondents they asserted as follow;

“….juvenile engaged in unhealthy relationships in order to get favors from the staff or prefects and even the

neighboring communities. With only one set of uniforms there were problems with hygienic conditions within the schools when washed because the children lacked what to change on and ended up using the uniforms which were still wet. Lack of uniforms further made them miserable and untidy and even stole from their colleagues. Some of the uniforms were small and this made children feel ashamed. They got stressed in sharing their beds with the rest thus leading to bad behaviors such as sodomy and lesbianism….”

Respondent F, a 42 year old male teacher claimed

Infection of skin diseases as a result of sharing soaps, beddings, and other sanitary materials and going hungry because of insufficient food among others were very common in these schools. Inadequate provision of food forced some of the children to stealing food from the kitchen or running away from the schools. Inadequate food caused some of the children to sell themselves at night for sodomy to fellow juveniles, officers and even neighbors.  Taking bath together caused the children to feel ashamed of themselves because some of them felt too old to be mixed with younger ones.

Respondent H a female, male teacher aged 37 years

Older boys harassed the young ones and even snatched away their food. Lack of basic needs led to fighting between the boys. There was a lot of stealing of soaps, toothpaste and uniforms from the schools and neighborhoods which made learning difficult for the children. One of the girls said that “when you are late during meals, you miss food and therefore unable to concentrate in class”.

Respondent G female teacher aged 41 years old

The above assertion implies that for those who indicated that they had enough accommodation, they said that being given uniform and a  few  basic  needs  at  least  gave  them  hope  of  learning  and  changing behavior. This was because some of them came from poor families and so life was better here. This made them live well because they could afford to sleep and eat well unlike at home or on the streets.

CONCLUSION

The study on juvenile rehabilitation in Kiambu County, Kenya revealed concerning statistics regarding overcrowding and inadequate facilities. For instance, Kamae housed 378 juveniles against a capacity of 250, while Kamiti’s population reached 220, exceeding its capacity of 120. These overcrowded conditions were exacerbated by insufficient accommodation facilities, with Kamae and Kamiti reporting 31% and 47% inadequacy, respectively.

Views from staff and juveniles highlighted the detrimental impact of these conditions on rehabilitation efforts. Staff members expressed concerns about overwork and poor management due to high capacity, while juveniles reported feeling cramped and disadvantaged by the lack of classrooms and workshops. Negative perceptions towards staff also hindered the rehabilitation process, emphasizing the need for improved staff training and support.

Furthermore, the study underscored the unfavorable environmental conditions within rehabilitation institutions, with 93% of respondents considering the environment either very unfavorable or unfavorable for reformation. These challenges, coupled with resource deficiencies, hindered the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile delinquents into society.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the study findings, the study puts forth the following objectives

1. The study revealed that current rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders are outdated and fail to meet the needs of adolescents in today’s world. This highlights the necessity for a comprehensive assessment and revamp of these programs to ensure they effectively address modern challenges.
2. A significant barrier to effective rehabilitation was identified as the lack of necessary material and human resources in rehabilitation institutions. Improving resource allocation by providing appropriate equipment, materials, and qualified staff is crucial to facilitate the rehabilitation process effectively.
3. The study found that existing environmental circumstances in rehabilitation centers are not conducive to the reformation process for juveniles. Modernizing infrastructure and enhancing the overall quality of life in these institutions are essential to creating a nurturing environment that supports successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
4. To address these challenges, the research suggests a holistic strategy that combines education, vocational training, counseling, and life skills development. Additionally, addressing resource gaps and establishing a hospitable living environment within rehabilitation institutions are vital components for ensuring the success of the rehabilitation process and the eventual reintegration of juvenile offenders into society.

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