An Investigation into the Church’s Participation in the Protection of Children against Sexual Abuse in Kibra Slums: A Case of Anglican Church of Kenya St. Jerome Parish, Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct an investigation into the church‟s participation in the protection of children against sexual abuse in Kibra slum. Its objectives included to investigate the church‟s participation in the protection of children against sexual abuse in Kibra slum, to establish ways the church uses to protect children from sexual abuse identify the effects of sexual abuse on the lives of children in Kibra and recommend strategies the church can use to tackle sexual abuse among children in Kibra. The study employed a case study design and used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. It targeted 10-15-year-old children, the church‟s members, especially management board, and Sunday school teachers. The study used purposive sampling technique to select 166 respondents. It used questionnaires and guided interviews to collect data that was coded and keyed into the computer for analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The findings indicated that the respondents understood the church‟s role in the protection of chidren against sexual abuse. The study also found out that children were affected by child sexual abuse both physically, psychologically and emotionally. The study concluded that child sexual abuse was a common occurrence in Kibra slums. The effects of sexual abuse that were experienced in childhood had a long way of effect even to a person‟s adulthood. The study recommended that church leadership should seriously vet the Sunday school teachers, develop a child safety curriculum, and train the staff on it.