Browsing by Author "Kipruto, Peter"

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    PublicationOpen Access
    Stressors Influencing homicide-suicide among national police service officers in Njoro subcounty, Nakuru county, Kenya
    (Mount Kenya University, 2024-02) Kipruto, Peter
    This research study delved into the prevalent issue of Homicide-Suicide occurrences among the Kenya National Police Service, Despite the concerning rise in Homicide-Suicide incidents within security forces, comprehensive research on this phenomenon was lacking in Kenya. This study aimed to investigate stressors contributing to Homicide-Suicide among police officers, with a focus on occupational, organizational, personal, and economic aspects that influenced self-harm behaviors. Drawing from Psychoanalytic Theory by Sigmund Freud and Emile Durkheim's Theory of Suicides, the research delved into the dynamics behind Homicide-Suicide incidents in the context of the National Police Service. Employing a triangulation, concurrent mixed-method research design, the target population for this study was 328. Data collection involved questionnaires and key informants’ interviews, while analysis encompassed descriptive statistics and content analysis. A sample of 180 officers were included in the study but only 136 completed and returned the questionnaires culminating in a response rate of 75.6%. In the context of personal stressors, the study scrutinized the interplay between diagnosed mental health conditions, exposure to traumatic life events, and relationship issues. The survey data revealed that a significant percentage of participants experienced symptoms of diagnosed mental health conditions due to personal stressors, impacting their well-being and ability to cope with stressors. Seeking professional help was limited, possibly due to associated stigma. Dissatisfaction with organizational support was also noted. Traumatic event exposure impacted officers' mental well-being, with organizational support playing a role in coping. Coping with relationship problems was complex, affecting both personal life and job performance. Regarding occupational stressors, the analysis focused on critical incident exposure, high workload, and job-related pressure. Many officers frequently encountered critical incidents or traumatic events, impacting their mental well-being. Organizational support for coping was perceived as insufficient. High workload affected officers' stress levels and well-being, with effective management and organizational support presenting challenges. Job-related pressure influenced mental well-being and perceptions of support. In the realm of organizational stressors, the study examined perceived support from superiors, availability of resources, and leadership effectiveness. Many officers felt unsupportive superiors hindered open communication, while resource availability was associated with officers' mental well-being. Leadership effectiveness was mixed, with communication style impacting officers' experiences. Addressing economic stressors, the research explored satisfaction with salary and benefits, financial strain, and career advancement. Many officers were dissatisfied with their compensation, feeling financial difficulties and stress due to inadequate salaries. Financial strain and debt negatively impacted officers' stress levels. Job stability and career advancement had varying effects on officers' well-being. The study's findings underscored the multifaceted nature of challenges faced by Kenyan police officers, aligning with insights from empirical literature. Recommendations encompass addressing mental health stigma, enhancing organizational support, promoting work-life balance, providing coping strategies, fostering empathetic leadership, ensuring resource availability, addressing compensation concerns, and creating supportive work environments. The outcomes contribute to the literature on Homicide-Suicide among police officers in third-world countries, offering valuable insights for policy-making by relevant agencies
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Stressors Influencing Homicide-Suicide Among National Police Service Officers In Njoro Sub County, Nakuru County, Kenya
    (International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2024-02-21) Kipruto, Peter
    This research explored Homicide-Suicide (H-S) among Kenya National Police Service (KNPS) officers, with a focus on Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Despite a rise in incidents, research on this phenomenon was scarce in Kenya. The study investigated occupational, organizational, personal, and economic factors influencing H-S, drawing from Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory and Durkheim's Theory of Suicides. Using a mixed-method design, 328 KNPS officers, including KPS, APS, and DCI, participated, alongside key stakeholders. Data collection included questionnaires and interviews, resulting in a response rate of 75.6%, with 136 completed questionnaires. In the analysis of personal stressors, the study scrutinized mental health conditions, traumatic events, and relationship issues. Participants experienced mental health symptoms due to personal stressors, impacting well-being. Limited professional help-seeking was noted, possibly due to stigma. Dissatisfaction with organizational support was observed. Traumatic event exposure affected mental well-being, with organizational support playing a role. Coping with relationship problems was complex. The analysis of occupational stressors focused on critical incidents, workload, and job-related pressure. Many officers encountered critical incidents, impacting wellbeing. Organizational support for coping was perceived as insufficient. High workload affected stress levels, with management challenges. Job-related pressure influenced wellbeing and support perceptions. In the examination of organizational stressors, the study explored support from superiors, resource availability, and leadership effectiveness. Unsupportive superiors hindered communication, while resource availability was associated with mental well-being. Leadership effectiveness varied, impacting experiences. The analysis of economic stressors explored salary satisfaction, financial strain, and career advancement. Dissatisfaction with compensation led to financial difficulties and stress. Financial strain negatively impacted stress levels. Job stability and career advancement had varying effects. Findings highlighted the multifaceted challenges faced by Kenyan police officers, aligning with literature. Recommendations included addressing mental health stigma, enhancing organizational support, promoting work-life balance, providing coping strategies, fostering empathetic leadership, ensuring resource availability, addressing compensation concerns and creating supportive work environments. The outcomes contributed to H-S literature, guiding policy-making for agency relevance, ultimately enhancing officers' well-being in Njoro Sub County, Nakuru County.