CONSTRAINTS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING POLICIES AT THE NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE, CASE STUDY OF ADMINISTRATION POLICE TRAINING COLLEGE, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Gender Mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. Mainstreaming involves ensuring that gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender equality are central to all activities, policy development, research, advocacy/ dialogue, legislation, resource allocation, and planning, implementation of development programmes and projects. Gender equality has been a major concern in the development discourse for decades. Again, although there has been some effort to achieve gender equality in the service, certain gender discrepancies related to physical qualifications during recruitment, availability and standard of training facilities, treatment by the opposite sex, assignments and deployments, and kitting still exists as noted by National Gender and Equality Commission. The main objectives of the study were; to assess gender mainstreaming policies adopted by APTC in ensuring gender equality by APTC management, to evaluate the effectiveness of these policies and tools in the attainment of gender equality within the Administration Police Training College, to assess the challenges to effective implementation of gender mainstreaming policies adopted by APTC and to examine strategies for enhancing the effective implementation of gender mainstreaming policies within the APTC. The theory used was Three Step Theory of Change by Kurt Lewin.The research design used in this study was descriptive survey research design. The sample size was 140 staff members who either influence the gender mainstreaming policies or are affected by the implementation of the policy, thus 136 respondents and 10 key informants who were senior Police Officers at APTC, APS and NPS. The study interviewed majority of women since they are the ones who are normally affected by gender inequality. For triangulation purpose, both primary and secondary data was gathered. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire which was closed and open-ended. The data was then analyzed to show distribution by use of descriptive statistics which included measures of central tendency (mean, mode, median) by use of Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21. For qualitative data, use of content analysis to identify patterns, themes and biases was applied. The findings showed that although there were presence of Gender Mainstreaming Policies the respondents did not feel the impact of these policies hence termed the policies ineffective, major constraints to implementation of the policies were, lack of proper structures to mainstream gender equality and lack of need to show interest in implementing gender policies. They also stated that in the case of gender related issues reported, there were no follow ups to find solutions to problems. Lack of proper representation, communication breakdown from senior to junior staff, and lack of coordination were among other challenges cited. The researcher recommends that the central government of Kenya should do regular audits on implementation of these policies according to the constitutional amendments of 2010, which provided an act on employment ratio of male to female to be equal. Further, the institution should increase promotion rate of women in the core offices that deal with gender mainstreaming policies and empower and equip Gender Department at the Administration Police Service Jogoo House. The National Police Service should work on having a gender office at the Administration Police Training College