Victim Participation and Victim Satisfaction in Restorative Justice Programs in Western Region, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between victim participation, measured through engagement level, programme attendance and victim-offender interaction, and satisfaction among adult victims in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga counties. Restorative justice is designed to guarantee victims a participatory role; however, local evidence on the relationship between victim involvement and satisfaction in community-led restorative processes in Western Kenya remains limited. Guided by Symbolic Interactionism, the study adopted a convergent parallel mixed-methods design involving a correlational survey, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The target population and sampling frame comprised 18,284 adult victims of non-capital and non-sexual crimes documented in National Government Administration Officers' records between January 2022 and December 2024. Of the 400 selected victims, 349 completed questionnaires. Additionally, 24 National Government Administration Officers were interviewed, while 32 village elders participated in focus group discussions. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, simple linear regression, multiple regression and thematic analysis. Victim participation positively correlated with satisfaction (r = .590, p < .001), explaining 34.8 of its variances, F (1, 347) = 184.932, p < .001. However, its effect reduced to β = .138 after controlling for relationship, safeguards and inclusion. Qualitative findings showed that decision-making voice, attendance and sincere offender acknowledgement strengthened participation, while facilitator bias, tokenistic consultation and insincere apologies undermined satisfaction. The study concluded that participation enhanced satisfaction when substantive rather than merely formal. It recommends victim-controlled readiness decisions, facilitator neutrality training and systematic monitoring of participation quality to strengthen victim-centred restorative justice in Western Kenya.