Factors Influencing Youth Participation In The Implementation Of Community Development Projects: A Case Of Konoin Sub-County, Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

This study is designed to identify the influence of Youth participation to their community development projects and how their active participation in decision-making process can contribute toward community development in Konoin sub-county. This study intends to establish how level of education among the youth influences their participation in community-based youth projects and to assess how individual factors influence youth participation in community-based youth projects in Konoin Sub-county. In addition, the study sought to determine how youth involvement in the monitoring of the projects influences their participation in community-based youth projects, and to determine how involvement in decision-making influences youth participation in community development youth projects in Konoin Sub-county. A review of literature was conducted to determine the existing knowledge gap concerning youth participation in community development projects. A descriptive research design was adopted in order to achieve the objectives of this study. Data was collected using structured questionnaire with a sample size of 278 being selected. Data cleaning, coding, and analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Analyzed data were presented using both descriptive and inferential analysis. and tables were adopted during the presentation of analyzed data. Findings revealed that youth who had attained different levels of education participated differently in the youth projects as indicated by majority 49(65.3%) of youth officials. Majority 89(52.2%) of youth members strongly agreed that the experiences in the education were useful in the participation of youth in community projects. The study further found out that education encouraged the youth to participate in community projects as indicated majority 42(56.0%) of youth officials. Findings further indicated that educated youth were better empowered for participation in the community base as indicated by majority 133(78.4%) of youth members. The study revealed that individual factors influenced youth participation in the implementation of community projects as indicated by majority 75.7% of youth members. Majority, 53.3% of youth officials, strongly agreed that other officials influenced them to participate in the community projects. It was further indicated that male youths participated in the implementation of community projects more than female. The study indicated that youths were involved in the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of community development projects as indicated by majority of youth officials (82.7%). Findings further revealed that of officials (53.3%) disagreed that youth were involved in the appointment of the evaluation committee. Majority 64.0% of youth officials and majority 79.9% of members indicated that involvement of youth in decision making influenced youth participation in the implementation of community projects. Based on the findings, it was concluded that education had an influence on youth participation in implementation of community development projects. the study concluded that individual factors influenced youth participation in the implementation of community projects and youths were not aware of the importance of participating in the implementation of community development project. the study concluded that youth involvement in the monitoring of the youth projects influenced the youth in participating in the community development projects but they were not involved in the appointment of the evaluation committee. This study recommends that the government should develop strategies to curb the challenges faced by youths in trying to be part and parcel of the implementation of community development projects and also have their voices heard.