Appraisal of the Provisions of Section 4 (B) of the Borstal Institutions Act Cap 92 Laws of Kenya to Children in Conflict with the Law at Shikusa Borstal Institution in Kakamega County, Kenya

The study focuses on the appraisal of reform training as stipulated in section 4 (b) of the Borstal Institutions Act Cap 92 of the Laws of Kenya for juveniles in conflict with the law. The reform trainings recommended for the juvenile offenders by the Borstal Institutions Act include educational, industrial, and agricultural training. With modernization and industrialization, the magnitude and complexity of crimes committed by juvenile offenders have changed over time and the population increase has led to noticeable increase in juvenile delinquents in both developed and developing nations. This state of affairs has prompted governments and other international institutions such as the United Nations to develop measures to address the increasing number of Juveniles who are in conflict with the law. Due to their young age, children who are in conflict with the law may not possess the maturity to realize the extent of their acts; they should therefore not be exposed to the company of adult offenders since it is likely to have an aggravating impact on them.  The specific objective of the study was to to assess the needs of juvenile offenders undergoing training in Shikusa Borstal Institution in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study used stratified random sampling to identify sample of 100 juvenile offenders and 18 instructors and teachers, Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. This was a mixed research study focusing on human behavior examining their attitude, ideas, motives and intentions.  The study comprised of a sample size of 99 Juvenile offenders in Shikusa Borstal Institution, 18 teachers/instructors of the institution. Study data was analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics with the aid of the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23 for windows. Study findings revealed that reform trainings met the needs of offenders in Shikusa Borstal Institution thereby having a positive influence on their reform. The study therefore recommended that juvenile offenders be involved at the onset in the selection of training before they were enrolled since it emerged that some offenders were not interested in the reform training assigned. Keywords: Provisions, Section 4 (b), Borstal Institutions Act Cap 92 Laws of Kenya, Children, Conflict with the Law DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-8-03 Publication date:October 31st 202

The Nexus Between Acquitted Remandees' Personal Characteristics and Their Reintegration in Kakamega County, Kenya

Remandee characteristics play a major role in reintegration back into the community. Some of these characteristics are either dynamic or static and these include; gender, age when the individual was arrested, educational level, religious affiliations, history of involvement in crime, social environment and the set of skills that the individual possesses. According to Nelson Mandela Rules, treatment programmes that are domiciled in carceral institutions are only effective when based on proper diagnosis and individual assessment of the offender and his or her situation. This study sought to investigate the nexus between Acquitted remandees' personal characteristics and their reintegration in Kakamega County, Kenya.  The study was underpinned in the Labelling theory and Social Learning theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design employing a mixed methods of data collection.  Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain acquitted remandees while purposive sampling was used to obtain Prison Officers, Probation Officers, Assistant Chiefs and Community members who took part in the study as key informants. A sample of 400 acquitted remandees was selected from a population of 1,427 using Yamane's sample apportionment formula. In addition, 5 Senior Prison Officers responsible for remandee containment at Kakamega Main and Kakamega women Prisons, 4 officers in charge of Probation stations in Kakamega County, 8 community members and 8 assistant chiefs from Sub-Locations with the highest number of returning remandees in Kakamega County were included in the study as key informants. Study data were collected using a questionnaire for acquitted remandees, interviews schedule for Prison Officers and Probation Officers and Focus Group Discussions for community members and Assistant Chiefs. Statistically quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 for windows. Findings of the study revealed that remandee personal characteristics were significantly related to the reintegration of acquitted remandees in Kakamega county, Kenya (r=0.525; P<0.05). A recommendation was made based on the study findings that an inventory of the released remandees' training level, skills, abilities, and preferences be prepared, periodically updated, and shared with potential support organizations to facilitate successful reintegration upon release from remand. Linear regression between personal characteristics and reintegration of acquitted remandees revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.285 implying that 28.5% of the variance in the reintegration of acquitted remandees in Kakamega County was a result of their personal characteristics. Keywords: Acquitted Remandees, Personal Characteristics. Reintegration DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/124-06 Publication date:September 30th 202

Influence of Gender on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Recidivists: A Study of Female Inmates in Women’s Prisons in Selected Counties in Western Kenya

Women were nearly never mentioned in the history of criminal justice literature, while recidivism is one of the most fundamental concepts in the field. The high rate of female recidivism having resulted in an increasing number of people being jailed and then discharged  back into society, and the high risk of re-arrest, re-incarceration has become a top priority for governments, sociologists, the general public and those included in  correctional facilities. The research took place at three Western Kenya women's prisons: Kakamega Women's Prison, Bungoma Women's Prison, and Busia Women's Prison. The study's overall goal was to look into the influence of gender on female recidivists' rehabilitation and reintegration. The research was based on the following precise goal; to determine the patterns of recidivism among female prisoners in selected counties in western Kenya prisons. The study used a descriptive research approach and was based on gendered route theory and relational theory. Repeat offenders from the respective jail facilities made up the research population. To acquire the desired representation from the study population, purposive selection was performed. For this study, 150 female respondents were chosen from a target population of 240 recidivists. Questionnaires and guidelines for Key Informant Interviews were utilized to collect data. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 for windows, and the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The study emphasizes the importance of introducing alternative rehabilitation approaches such as vocational training for female recidivists having manufacturing, processing, and farming technical talents and abilities. The study provides useful information and identifies a knowledge gap that the Kenyan prisons department and stakeholders would make use of to enhance legislation and rehabilitation techniques for female inmates. Females had a greater rate of recidivism, according to the study. The survey also discovered that the available rehabilitation programs don't really match the demands of the inmates. In addition, failure by the society to accept the female ex-convicts back into the community and to offer  them new opportunities for employment may result in further recidivism. Keywords: Gender, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Recidivists, Female inmates DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-8-05 Publication date:October 31st 202

Historical Survey of the Concept of Ecumenical Movement its Model and Contemporary Problems

Abstract The term "ecu menical" in theology today generally refers to the movement wh ich seeks to achieve external unity among the world's denominationally divined churches. The orig inal meaning of the word (fro m oikeo: to dwell, inhabit; and oikos: house, household; oikoumene: the whole inhabited earth [Lk. 4: 5]) has lapsed into disuse, as did the later development of the sense of a co mmon basic attitude or into disuse, as did the later develop ment of the sense of a co mmon basic attitude or doctrinal consensus by the "inhabitants" of the surface of the earth or the members of the church. A more modern, co mprehensive meaning has since been developed: "ecumenical" means the entirety of the church, which, looking back to its common orig inal tradit ional and looking forward to its hope, seeks a commonality in doctrine and in the life of faith. Movement toward unity or cooperation among the Christian churches