Determinants of youth participation in community development projects in Bomet central Subcounty, Bomet county, Kenya.

Abstract

The study sought to examine the factors influencing youth participation in community development projects in Bomet Central Sub-county, Bomet County, Kenya. The study was guided by the four objectives: to establish the influence of level of education on youth participation in development projects Bomet Central sub county; to examine the impact of the emerging national youth policy on the community in development projects at Bomet Central sub county, to find out the relationship of accessibility to opportunities and youth participation in development projects in Bomet Central sub county; and to establish relationship of socio-cultural aspects and youth participation in development projects Bomet Central sub county. This study used an exploratory qualitative research design, which is useful when a researcher seeks to elicit a participant’s experiences, perceptions and the meanings they attach to them. The study population consisted of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 and the target population was 37,960 youth in Bomet sub-County. A sample size of 396 was arrived at using Israel (2013) formula. Stratified random sampling was used in selecting respondents because it gives each item in the population an equal probability chance of being selected. The study used both primary and secondary data. The researcher used primary data collected using questionnaires to carry out the study. The questionnaires included structured and unstructured questions. The study obtained secondary data from the published reports which include periodicals, journals and internet. A pilot survey was also conducted for the purpose of testing the validity of instrument before the main data collection. The testretest technique was used to test the reliability. Analysis involved the production and interpretation of frequencies counts and tables that describes and summarizes the data. The data is presented using tables. The findings of this study are expected to contribute immensely to the existing body of knowledge on youth participation in development projects. Further, the findings can be used in formulation government policies that are geared towards enhancing more participation from the youth. The study found out that there was a significant association between education levels and youth participation in development projects (χ2=78.93, P-value=0.000). It was established that 89.7% of the respondents were aware of opportunities that can help them participate in development projects. Accessibility was found to have significant effect on youth participation in development projects (χ2=88.28, P-value=0.000). Chi-square test of independence showed that there was significant association between government policies and youth participation in development projects (χ2=130.219, P-value=0.000). The findings indicated that there was a significant association between socio-cultural aspects and youth participation in development projects (χ2=38.798, P-value=0.001).