| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to examine the influence of Youth Enterprise Development Fund on youth empowerment
in Ruiru Constituency, Kiambu County, Kenya. The objectives of the study addressed the issues of loan
disbursement, capacity building, timeliness of disbursements, and project identification as influencers of
youth empowerment in Ruiru Constituency, Kiambu County. Research methodology adopted by this study
was a survey method and the study targeted the youth groups within Ruiru Constituency who borrowed
from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund in 2013. The total target population comprised 572 members
and sample size consisted of 233 respondents, with 3 of those being key informants from the Youth Fund
office. Both open-ended and close-ended questionnaires were used, as well as an interview guide for the
key informants. In this research, descriptive statistics were used. The questionnaires were edited first for
accuracy, and completeness. The study used frequency distribution and percentages, and computer
software-Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) as a tool of analysing data, and to establish
relationships between variables. The analysed data was tabulated for presentation. The findings on loan
disbursement indicated that the respondents were aware of the requirements needed before loan
applications were made. In addition, the respondents expressed appreciation of the interest-free loans, but
decried the loan amounts as inadequate. The respondents also pointed out that although they received
advance training before they started new businesses, they felt that more training was needed in order to
enhance their skills in their businesses. They also felt that the duration it took to release the funds after
application was too long, and it hampered their ability to plan for business capital. In terms of project
identification, the respondents felt the need for greater involvement of the government in market linkage
for their products and services. The study recommends that more awareness must be created through mass
media and other forums where youth can be reached. Selected institutes and colleges can be appointed as
Youth Fund Ambassadors in all counties, so that all youth even in the rural areas get equal opportunity. It
also recommends the reduction in the time it takes to process the loans, so that the youth can take
advantage of the special Government tenders that are reserved for them. The loan amounts can be increased
at the discretion of the Government so that the youth have sufficient funds to set up and expand their
businesses. Flexibility in giving subsequent loans should also be considered especially where the youth are
carrying out a special project. At the same time, there should be a centralised platform where the youth can
register their innovations and get tangible and substantial help from both the Government and private sector
players. These innovations should be promptly patented and intellectual rights protected for posterity | en_US |
