Abstract:
Recent advances in psychological research reveals that experiences of children and circumstances of children in
armed conflict are diverse .Children have long been both direct and indirect victims of violence. Traumatic
events can have effects on the victims, perpetrators and those who witness such events. In the 2007/2008 post election violence in Kenya, children were exposed to and witnessed various traumatic events. The study sought
to establish the level of exposure to traumatic experiences among the children survivors of 2007/2008 post election violence. The study was guided by Cognitive Behavioral Theory. The study target population was
77,768 children. A sample size of 460 respondents was derived from 10 divisions in Nakuru county which were
hard hit by post-election violence. The sample comprised of 400 children who included primary and secondary
survivors of the violence and 20 deputy head teachers in the schools sampled and 40 parents who took part in
focused group discussions. Expost facto comparative research design was utilized and multi-stage sampling
approach was used to derive the sample. Data for the study was obtained using questionnaires, interview
schedules and focused group discussions. A pilot study was conducted in Subukia division involving 80
children, four deputy head teachers and two focused group discussions. The hypotheses were tested at
significance level of 0.05. The study found the mean of the primary survivor was higher than that of secondary
survivors. This means majority of the children had witnessed more than ten traumatic experiences.
