Influence Of Civic Education Programme On Voter Turnout During General Elections A Case Of Endebess Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of civic education on voter turnout during General Elections a case study of Endebess Sub County in Trans- Nzoia County. Citizens possessed basic level of civic knowledge especially concerning political institutions and processes it was difficult for them to understand political events or to integrate new information into an existing framework. Knowledgeable citizens on civic affairs were less likely to experience a generalized mistrust of, or alienation from, public life. The problem that this study investigated specifically focused on influence of Civic Education content, methods used in providing Civic Education, literacy level of voters and training of Civic Education on voter turnout during elections a case study of Endebess Constituency in Trans- Nzoia County. This study applied a survey research design; as such it was an intensive descriptive and holistic analysis of the Endebess Constituency as a single entity. The study targeted 43, 189, 1 DCC, 2 ACC, 3 Chiefs, 7 Assistant Chiefs and 2 IEBC officials. Sample size was determined using Stratified and simple random sampling were used to select voters while purposive sampling was used to select IEBC officials, Civic Rights Group Representatives, DCC, ACC, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs. The sample size was determined using Cochran (1963:75) Equation and gave 385. The research tools that were used include questionnaires and interviews schedules. Data was collected by administering questionnaires to voters while interviews were held with DCC, ACC‟s, 3 Chiefs, 7 Assistant Chiefs and IEBC officials. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and findings were presented in tables. Qualitative findings were summed and organized using thematic analysis and presented in tables for easy viewership. In the findings, In the findings, 70.9% stated that training of civic education service providers influenced voter turnout during general election. Apart from that, 78.9% of the respondents stated that type of knowledge of voters influenced voter turnout during general election. It was recommended that, the government should partner with other stakeholders to ensure that voters are sensitized and educated according on civic education. There is the need by government to formulate policies that will regulate civic education programme and further support the exercise.