Effects of Sabaot Land Defence Force Violence on the Women’s Psychosocial Wellbeingand their Coping Strategies in Kopsiro Division of Mount Elgon Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Each year, nearly 1.4 million people worldwide lose their lives due to violence. For every person who dies as a result of violence, many more are injured and suffer from a range of physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health problems. Violence places a massive burden on national economies, costing countries billions of US dollars each year in health care, law enforcement and lost productivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) violence on the women’s psychosocial wellbeing and their coping strategies in Kopsiro division of Mount Elgon sub-county. The study was based on Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT). This study was carried out among women groups in Emia, Chepyuk, Kapkateny and Chongeywo locations in Kopsiro division. The study was a survey that adopted ex post facto design. The target population for the research was 23,852 women. The accessible population consisted of 690 women from the four locations. A study sample of forty (40) women was selected through purposive sampling technique whereby ten (10) women were selected homogeneously from each study location. Out of the forty (40) women, sixteen (16) of them were leaders who were selected purposively from each sampled group. The study used focus group discussions to obtain data from the sampled groups and interview schedule from the selected leaders. Validity was established using expert opinion from the supervisors and other psychologists as well as counsellors from the Department of Psychology, Counselling and Educational Foundations in Egerton University. A pilot study was conducted in Cheptais division using twenty (20) women from two women groups. After subjecting the instruments to the two groups separately, the results indicated that the instruments were sufficient for the study since the respondents had similar responses. Demographic data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages while detailed narrations of qualitative data gathered through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and interview schedule were analyzed in a thematic way. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the women suffered psychologically and socially during the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) violence. For instance: a number of them experienced stress and some of them developed ulcers, lack of sleep and nightmares. Furthermore, the study findings suggest that coping strategies adopted by the victims were partially effective. These included: perseverance, silence and medication, acceptance of reality, forgetting the past, speaking out, prayer, forgiveness and going to church among others. This study concluded that the victims needed counselling interventions from various stakeholders in order to cope up with psychosocial effects of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) violence more effectively. The study has made recommendations for inclusive counselling, community safety and peace plan as well as government assistance for the victims.