Experts say jealousy, adultery main causes of violence in families

By Lilian Aluanga-Delvaux and Gardy Chacha

Kenya : Experts say issues ranging from pressures of modern living, jealousy, suspicion, adultery and disillusionment with marriage are responsible for grim violence in families and among loved ones. Winnie Kitetu, a clinical psychologist, say cases of children turning on their parents were as a result of poor parenting.

“Most children are going through both emotional and physical abuse either from the househelp or from parents themselves,” she says.

Parents should take more time with their children, guide them against drug abuse and be good role models.

“These are complicated issues to deal with and point to what kind of society we are living in,” says Dr Dickson Nkonge, a lecturer at Chuka University College and a former chaplain at the Kenyatta National hospital.

Nkonge says the society needs to go back to the drawing board with people asking themselves basic questions on the institution of marriage and the value it holds.

Margaret Mbusiro, a psychologist, says poverty and the stress of financial responsibilities and pressures within a family could drive a spouse over the edge.

“Children get caught up in the midst of all these and may sometimes be the victims say for instance where a parent feels they are unable to adequately provide for them,” says Mbusiro.

There are mental conditions or predispositions that can contribute into the murder instinct of one who kills a close relative, says Dr Daniel Kinyanjui, a psychiatrist at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.