The influence of youth enterprise development fund on growth of youth owned economic enterprises in Kasarani constituency, Nairobi Province in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of Youth Enterprise Development Fund on growth of youth owned economic enterprises in Kasarani constituency in Nairobi Kenya. The research design used was descriptive survey study. The population of the study was 128,~17 youths clustered into 13 youth groups of approximately 30 members. The sampling design was stratified sampling and the sample size was 390 youth group derived from 13 youth groups. Data was collected from two sources - Primary and Secondary. The data analysis method used was based on quantitative approach using descriptive statistics. Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS Version 16) was used in data analysis.

The analysed data was presented in tables and percentages. The study results shows that the mode of accessing YEDF, the amount availed for YEDF and strategies adopted by the Government in management of the fund influences the growth of youth owned economic enterprise, but to a varying degree. The study further reveals. that the national youth policy document does include broad policies needed for growth of youth owned economic enterprises, but the policy document needs to incorporate comprehensive and multi-sectorial programmes on youths.

The study has thus generated knowledge and information targeting to improve on growth of youth owned economic enterprises for sustainable livelihoods based on access to Youth Enterprise devolved funds provided by the Government of Kenya. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to ease the modes off accessing the YEDF and that the amount availed is not adequate and recommends that Government needs to urgently address the reasons that make the fund not attractive to majority of the youths. The study suggests that a future research could be carried out to determine the impact of Government policy that empowers all stakeholders in the planning, design and implementation of youth programmes on the growth of youth owned economic enterprises.