Factors influencing the development of youth entrepreneurship in Ongata Rongai township, Kajiado county, Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurship IS the engine of economic growth and development. Youth entrepreneurship has a greater potential to aid the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 8, target 16 which aims at providing decent and productive work for youth. Provision of employment among the youth will save them from social exclusion. This study was aimed at identifying those factors influencing the development of youth entrepreneurship. This study sought to; find out how access to credit, entrepreneurship education, market, business support services and social economic factors affect the development of Youth entrepreneurship in Ongata Rongai Township.

A target population of 250 units was used and total sample size of 150 was picked as representative, in addition two Administrative officers working with credit institutions were also interviewed. A descriptive survey design was used. Probability and non- probability sampling techniques were used to create a sampling frame. Stratified sampling was one of the probability techniques used in order to ensure that various types of youth run enterprises were included in the survey. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, interview guide and observation method.

The collected data was analysed using Statistical package for Social Scientist software. The results of the study were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the results were presented using tables. The findings of the study revealed that a majority of the youth had poor credit access individually mainly from financial institutions as well as Youth Enterprise Fund. Access to entrepreneurship education and Business development services during the startup and growth phase also affected many young entrepreneurs. The socio economic factors such as unemployment led many youth to participate in business.