THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CURRENT APPROACHES AND THE VISION OF TRANSFORMING MASCULINITIES BY FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN BAHATI SUB-COUNTY, NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Globally, the modern family is faced by incidences of family crises like Gender Based Violence (GBV), separation and divorce. While numerous suggestions have been offered to explain the causality of such cases, a growing body of literature link negative masculinities with the incidences of these family crises. In response to this, some Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) are using leaders to counsel members, gender champions, dialogue and, preaching and Bible study approaches in transforming masculinities. This study sought to determine the association between current approaches and vision of transforming masculinities by Kenya Anglican Men Association (KAMA) and Presbyterian Church Men Fellowship (PCMF) in Bahati Sub-County, Nakuru County. This study used ex post- facto research design. The target population was 928 registered members of 14 Faith Based Organisations (KAMA & PCMF) in Bahati Sub-County. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample size of (181) respondents. By including all the fourteen clergy (14) as key participants and fourteen lay leaders (14) who formed Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), the total sample size obtained was (209) participants. Data collection instruments used were a Questionnaire, interviews and FGD schedules. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis, with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows. Findings of the study established that approaches used by FBOs have a significant association with the vision of transforming masculinities. In this regard the study recommends that FBOs are key in the campaign of transforming masculinities in the context of incidences of modern family crises and their approaches can be used by the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and institutions of learning for Community education.