DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE URBAN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS OF NAIROBI A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Purpose: Violence against women is one of the most widespread problems facing Kenyan women today. The central problem of this study is the way women react to domestic violence and in particular why they do not seek redress through the available channels. Whilst women are particularly affected by domestic violence, they are also the primary victims of rape or sexual attacks by strangers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of domestic violence against women in urban informal settlements of Nairobi and why the women do not seek any redress.

Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.

Findings: Though GBV is a well-known vice that pervades all social strata all over the world, most women suffer in silence. This is mainly due to cultural beliefs, poverty, lack of resources or weak and unsupportive community structures, discriminatory laws governing marriage and divorce, social stigma, their economic dependency on men as well as their ignorance of their rights. Due to their low levels of education, most women believe that their husbands have a right to beat them. They do not know that they have available options, which can save them from abusive relationships.

Unique Contribution to Theory and Practice: When developing and putting up interventions to help survivors of gender-based violence, these interventions should be designed in partnership with the women they are intended to benefit