Economic Status and Persistent Defilement Cases in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Statistics on child abuse revealed that defilement is the most common form of abuse in Kenya. This paper explores the effect of economic status on persistent defilement cases in Tharaka Nithi County. This study was guided by theory of Four- Factor Traumagenic. This study used phenomenological research design to collect qualitative data. The unit of analysis for this study was victims of defilement. The target population for this study was all the 98 defiled children (93 girls and 5 boys), 98 parents/caregivers and 5 chiefs. There were three interview schedules developed for parents/guardians of defiled children, chiefs and defiled children. Collected data was analysed using thematic method which entails identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns (themes) within data. The study findings revealed that the need to provide basic needs, assist parents/caregivers in income generation, use of motorbikes to school, and need for money in exchange for sex have greatly contributed to high defilement cases in the study area. The study recommends that the parents need to advance their economic sources of livelihood in order to alleviate themselves from poverty levels and meet the social and basic needs of their families including their children.