Factors influencing youth empowerment in Rachuonyo South District, Homa-Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

The study set out to identify factors Influencing Youth Empowerment in Rachuonyo South District, Homa-Bay County. Youths being considered as the backbone of society and nation as a whole, has a significant role to play in both developed and developing countries. The future of any society and nation depends upon the thinking and action of the youths. They have the potential energy that when properly utilized will bring high quality output in different sectors. Putting into consideration the significant role of yd'Uths, youths in Rachuonyo South District is still faced with numerous problems which makes them to be involve in violence activities like causing chaos in funerals under influence of politicians.

The study was out to achieve the following objectives; to establish the extent to which access to information influence youth empowerment, to investigate the extent to which education and training skills influence youth empowerment, to determine the extent to which membership in youth groups influence youth empowerment, to examine the extent to which cultural factors influence youth empowerment and to evaluate the extent to which participation/engagement of youths influence youth empowerment.

The study has looked at research questions based on the research objectives namely; to what extent do access to information influence youth empowerment?, how does education and training skills influence youth empowerment?, what influence does membership in youth groups have on youth empowerment?, how does cultural factors influence youth empowerment?, does participation/engagement of youths influence youth empowerment? The study findings was hoped to be beneficial to the youths. government of Kenya, interested bodies like NOOs and other donors.

The study has discussed the five objectives in details relating them to their influence to youth empowerment. The study is based on Paulo's Educational Theory of Value. This asserts that empowerment should raise awareness of the vulnerable or disadvantaged groups which for this case are the youths. The conceptual framework has given an illustration of how the dependent variable relates to the independent variables and the moderating variables. The study adopted a descriptive survey design.

The study targeted 40 registered youth groups in Rachuonyo South District and all their members who are 1080 youths. A sample of 10% was taken from the population. The investigator then -divided the district into clusters; east, west, and central Kasipul; east and west Kabondo; and Kokwanyo. Hence, the investigator sampled youths in each cluster at random. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the respondents. Content validity was ascertained through expert judgment, while reliability was established through the split-half method. Questionnaires were hand delivered by the investigator and were picked by the same investigator. Data collected was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques to test research objectives and questions.

Data analysis, presentation and interpretation were done through the use of tables. The summary of the findings. conclusions and its recommendations were made. The study found out that youths are not empowered. This is influenced by the factors mentioned as the objectives of the study. The study suggested that a similar study can be done to identify the factors influencing youth empowerment in the same area. It also suggested that similar study can be done to assess the possibilities of assisting the youth groups to be successful and beneficial.