Psychosocial Challenges to Sustainable Development in Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru Counties: Psychosocial Issues Reported Between June, 2015 and June 2016.

Abstract

The sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, offer an opportunity to achieve the commitments on the prevention of most harmful psychosocial issues facing humanity in the twenty first century. This paper seeks to identify and analyze the psychosocial challenges that can hinder the attainment of sustainable development in Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru Counties. Objectives that guide the study seeks to establish the causes of psychosocial issues reported in the three Counties, their trends, the nature/type of issues reported, their prevalence/frequency of occurrence per County and per month, relevant policies in place, their impacts to development and recommended mitigation measures. The study uses archival research method whereby data is collected from already existing records from two national dailies of Daily Nation and Standard newspapers for the period from June 2015 to June 2016. Psychosocial issues reported from the three Counties will are systematically recorded using written document analysis worksheet tool where issues are listed as per newspaper, date and County. Each of the reported psychosocial issues is analyzed as per thematic area. The trends in terms of types of psychosocial issues reported and frequency of occurrence is identified and analyzed per month and County. Discussion of findings relates the theoretical explanations in literature to the psychosocial challenges reported in the three Counties. It is anticipated that the findings will be of interest to the County Governments of the said Counties and inform policy and County development planning. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made based on the findings.