EFFECT OF CRIME DETERRENCE STRATEGIES ON THE CONTROL OF JUVENILE GANG CRIME IN MOMBASA COUNTY, KENYA
EFFECT OF CRIME DETERRENCE STRATEGIES ON THE CONTROL OF JUVENILE GANG CRIME IN MOMBASA COUNTY, KENYA
Gilbert Kibiegon Cheruiyot - A Master of Public Policy and Administration Degree Student of Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Lawrence Wainaina - Lecturer, Department of Business Administration Department of Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Mombasa County has seen rapid growth in criminal gangs composed largely of juveniles and who are involved in a wave of criminal activities. The criminal acts carried out by these gangs almost on a daily basis paint a negative picture for the county and hence, the urgent need for finding long lasting solutions to this security challenge. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to assess the effect of crime deterrence strategies on the control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study sought to establish the effect of community policing and public surveillance systems on the control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the social disorganization theory, general strain theory and the routine activities theory. The study adopted a mixed methods research design. The study targeted several security stakeholders namely security officers, community policing officials, as well as officers from the correctional/rehabilitation centres within three sub counties in the county namely Kisauni, Mvita and Likoni sub counties. Primary data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and interview schedules was used. The qualitative data collected was analyzed using content analysis while for the quantitative data, both descriptive and inferential analysis were undertaken. A multiple linear regression model was used to show the relationship between crime deterrence strategies and control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County. The statistical package for social sciences was the main data analysis software used. The study established that the crime deterrence strategies considered in this study namely community policing and public surveillance systems had a positive significant effect on the control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County. It was noted that community policing was the strategies implemented to larger extent and also had the greatest effect on the control of this crime in the county. The study concluded that if the control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County was to be improved, enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of different crime deterrence strategies needed to prioritized. The study also concluded that the control of juvenile gang crime in Mombasa County when assessed based on different indicators can be generally rated as average and this crime continued to be a threat to security in the county. The study recommended that the government through the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination should also consider increasing the budgetary allocations towards the facilitation of community policing programs and initiatives. More budgetary allocations were also required from the Ministry to lay the proper structures needed to facilitate the efficient implementation of public surveillance systems in the county.
