Determinants of Information Communication Technologies among urban youths in Bungoma County

Abstract

According to the Ministry of youth Affairs and Sports, youth aged between 15-30 years number about 14million and account for more than 30% of the Kenyan population which is expected to increase to 17 million and 24 million by 2012 and 2017 respectively. Access to business information is a major constraint to youth enterprise growth in Kenya. Information gaps exist which harm enterprises by reducing incomes and increasing costs. According to National development plans and vision 2030 for various districts in Bungoma County, there is a problem of low ICT use and adoption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of information communication technologies among urban youths: A case of Bungoma County.

This study was based on demographic characteristics of youths, education, peer factors and income. The study was anchored on a survey design. Primary data was collected using both open ended and close ended questionnaires. The target population consisted of 274 urban youths sampled from 109 cyber cafes in 10 major urban towns in the Bungoma County. The sample size was determined using Yamane Tavo (1967) formula where a sample size of 163 was obtained. Pre-testing of the research instruments was done to validate and test reliability of the instruments. Reliability of the research instrument was done using Pearson correlation coefficient which yielded a value of 0.77 an indication that the research instrument was reliable.

The data collected was fed into statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) progamme and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations and presented in frequency tables, percentages and cross tabulations. The study findings found that the youths in the age bracket of 16-25 years had higher positive correlation values and accessed ICT services more than those in the age bracket of above 35 years. Youths belonging to social groups, had higher degree on the usage of the ICT services than those that did not belong to a social group. The youths with higher income accessed and used ICT services more than those who had less income. Similarly, the youths who had high educational levels accessed and used ICT services more than those that had lower educational levels. The results of the study will be helpful to the Ministries of youth Affairs and Sports, Information and Communications and other stake holders in their improvement of policies and practices on ICT adoption in Bungoma County and the rest of the county.