Page 1 of 7
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 2
Publication Date: April 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.102.12064. Katana, L. M., Merecia, A. S., & Njugu, P. N. (2022). Influence of Socio-Economic Adversity on Personal Security in Kilifi County,
Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(2). 448-454.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Influence of Socio-Economic Adversity on Personal Security in
Kilifi County, Kenya
Leonard Matole Katana
Department of Security and Correctional Science
Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Ann Sirera Merecia
Department of Security and Correctional Science
Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Paul Njiri Njugu
School of Business and Economics
Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Personal security is an important component of human security. Prior studies have
established a relationship between socioeconomic adversities and personal
security. However, there is little knowledge on the influence of social-economic
adversities on the personal security of individuals of Kilifi County in Kenya. The
objective of the study was to determine whether socioeconomic adversity has
impact on the personal security of people in Kilifi County. The study used general
strain theory as the basis for evaluating the influence of socio-economic adversity
on personal security. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study found that 74.06% of
the Kilifi County residents have compromised personal security; 63.82% of the
residents attributed compromised personal security to low income and
unavailability of employment opportunities. The study recommends the deliberate
measures by local government, national government, and development partners to
provide means of sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities as a
sustainable solution to personal security.
Keywords: Personal Security, Social Factors, Socio-economics, Economic Security,
urbanization.
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between socio-economic aspects and personal security is widely. Much have
been documented on the relationship between socio-economic policies and personal security
policies. An important feature in the discourse on personal security has been the need to
provide serene socioeconomic environment to communities as a precursor to a stable and
peaceful environment[1], [2]. Socio-economic serenity includes basic needs, education, health,
and employment. There need to consider other factors such as family well-being and
infrastructure development [3]. However, environmental factors that include climate change,
inequality, population demographics, urbanization, and social exclusion are obstacles in
Page 2 of 7
449
Katana, L. M., Merecia, A. S., & Njugu, P. N. (2022). Influence of Socio-Economic Adversity on Personal Security in Kilifi County, Kenya. European
Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(2). 448-454.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.102.12064
building communal socio-economic serenity [4]. Low income and inability to get employment
contributes to psychological stress and ultimately affect personal security [2].
Residents of Kilifi County face many challenges resulting from the socioeconomic status of the
area. It is difficult to access meaningful employment and the residents have no access to capital
to set up income-generating projects [3]. The level of education for the population is low;
poverty level is high, and there is food insecurity resulting from poor farming methods. These
factors immensely contribute to low personal security in the area. Notably, more than 50% of
the population in Kilifi County lives below the poverty line [5]. There have been efforts by the
national government through National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF)
and the county government to create development projects that provide a livelihood to the
residents [6]. However, projects implemented in infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture have
done little to improve the welfare of the population.
Studies on socioeconomic factors in Kilifi have focused on aspects of systemic challenges in
society. The studies have concentrated on challenges including unemployment [3], low
education levels, and low food availability [5]. A particularly interesting study was on the
socioeconomic influence of the COVID-19 epidemic on the livelihoods and health of
communities and families [7]. However, there has been minimal focus on the effects of socio- economic factors on personal security in Kilifi County, yet the effects of socio-economic
influences in security are spread and felt throughout the county. Although Kilifi County is
fraught with social-economic challenges, little is known on how this affects the personal
security of citizens in the county.
Problem Statement
Kilifi County has faced many challenges arising from the socioeconomic status of the
population. The County faces critical challenges such as insufficient employment opportunities,
poor education, and food insecurity due to poor farming methods. The county is grappling with
incidences of insecurity. Kenya’s 2019 national population census puts the population of Kilifi
County at 1,453,787 with more than half of the population living below the poverty line [5]. The
development of the county remains low despite the efforts of the national and county
governments to improve infrastructure and tourism, which are the main economic activities in
the county. These challenges are often the reason behind the upsurge in insecurity. Despite this
understanding, there has been little focus by scholars on the effect on personal security.
Several studies looking into the social-economic factors in Kilifi have focused on aspects of
systemic societal challenges. The studies have often focused on particular challenges including
unemployment, low education levels, and low food availability [3]. Most recently there has been
a study on the socio-economic influence of the COVID-19 epidemic on the livelihoods and health
of communities and families [7]. However, there has been minimal focus on the effects of socio- economic factors on personal security in Kilifi County yet the effects of socio-economic
influences in security are spread and felt throughout the county. Therefore, this study sought
to determine whether socioeconomic adversities influence personal security in Kilifi County,
Kenya.
Page 3 of 7
450
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 2, April-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Significance of the Study
The study is to ascertain the socio-economic factors that influence personal security in Kilifi
County. Being a community in the coast region of the country and relies much on tourism, the
information derived will be used to also generalize the other communities in the region [7].
Similarly, studies have paid little attention to various socio-economic factors faced by the
people at an individual level; therefore, results from the study will enlighten individuals on
their role in protecting themselves and the community. The results are a guide in pursuing
effective collaboration between individuals, society, and the state in addressing personal
insecurity.
LITERATURE REVIEW
According to the Institute of Economic Affairs (2017) [8], unemployment in Kenya is a growing
phenomenon that attracts the attention of leaders in the public and private sectors. There exists
elaborate policies that define and govern employment in Kenya. However, while the legislations
discourage discrimination and inequalities in employment, they do not clearly address the
challenges that the interest groups face in economic participation, particularly persons with
disability face in economic participation. Causes of unemployment in Kenya that range from the
quality of labour, the demand for labour, the supply of labour and the effectiveness of
employment policies. It is clear that the effects of unemployment impose economic, social and
psychological costs that require the attention of private sector and public sector actors.
Shauri and Obeka (2018) [3] highlighted that insecurity is emerging as a critical challenge of
development on the coast of Kenya. The socioeconomics of the coast region has suffered
immensely. Importantly, the region’s main economic mainstay is tourism, which has been
brought down by insecurity. The challenges of insecurity in the region range from the
traditional petty crimes, Gender-Based Violence, violence caused by a strong belief in witchcraft
pitying the elderly to emergent criminal gangs, radicalization, and recruitment into Violent
Extremist Organizations (VEOs). The authors studied challenges facing the police in
maintaining law and order in the region, the role of the youth/community in ensuring security
thrives in the region, particularly in Kilifi County. The study adopted a survey research design.
Purposive sampling was adopted to select Kilifi County based on expert knowledge on the
insecurity dynamics in the region, with the county representing some semblance of security
normalcy in the region.
Adenike (2021) [10] investigated the interactive effects of unemployment, poverty, and
insecurity in Nigeria; and examine the response of poverty and unemployment to the
emergence of conflict in Nigeria by employing the Granger causality test and the variance
decomposition technique. The results show that as more people fall below the poverty line, the
rate of unemployment increases and government spends more on security; and also as more
people become unemployed, the level of poverty increases; and as government expenditure on
security increases, poverty increases. Insecurity accounted for the greatest shocks in poverty
and unemployment; and also, poverty and unemployment positively and significantly
responded to shocks from insecurity. The paper recommends that appropriate micro and
macro-economic policies that are tailored towards elevating more people above the poverty
line, creating more employment opportunities, and imposing more stringent penalties on
culprits involved in insecurity vices must be pursued to enhance citizens’ quality of life.