Juvenile Crime Mitigation Measures Towards Security Management: Case Of Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi

Abstract

Juvenile crime in Kenya has contributed to high backlog of youth cases in security systems. A high number of youths engage in crime knowingly and unknowingly and are being condemned into prison despite the enactment of the Children and Young Persons Act 2022 as a legal instrument to protect juvenile and youthful offenders. Mathare Sub-County has a population of 68,941 persons per 3km square area, living in informal structures without sufficient basic needs, coupled with unemployment, being underemployed and being underpaid in manual contractual jobs. The purpose of this study is to assess mitigation measures towards juvenile crime in Mathare sub-county. The specific objective that will guide the study will be to establish the treatment accorded juveniles with criminal cases towards security management, assessment, and effectiveness of juveniles’ legislation in security management, and to propose mitigation measures that will enhance the rights of juvenile offenders. Recent studies have shown that poverty has been highlighted as a major factor in juvenile and youth delinquency in Mathare Sub- County. Two main theories will be employed in this study, the strain theory and Foucault theory of power and resistance as the residents’ fight poverty, marginalization, and identification. The study will use a sample size of 100 respondents, while the key generalrespondents will be 30. The Yamane formula will be used for the key respondents. Questionnaire and interviews schedule will be the main data collection instruments. The study will employ descriptive and inferential statistics during data analysis. Data collected will be presented using tables, charts, frequency, and percentage. The study findings may be of benefit to scholars and policy makers for the Kenyan government.