| dc.description.abstract | Driven by the need to address the high levels of youth unemployment in Kenya, the government
established the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. The objective of the fund is to provide the
youth with access to affordable credit either as individuals or in groups. Since its inception in
2006, it has disbursed billions of shillings countrywide. However, there are huge disparities in
uptake of the availed credit across the 47 counties. Among the counties with the lowest uptake is
Samburu County. Indeed, according to the 2013 status report of the youth fund, the county was
ranked last. The rank is indicative of various challenges which have influenced access in this
county. This study has investigated factors which have influenced uptake of the Youth Enterprise
Development Fund loans, in Samburu East Constituency, Samburu County and focused on three
independent variable being, regional factors, accessibility of information on the YEDF among the
youth, and the social-cultural factors. To do so, it has focused on 73 youth groups which have
accessed the loans at Constituency level as well as other stakeholders involved in registration of
the groups and disbursement of the fund. Out of this, a sample size of 23 was selected for
interviewing. Eventually, 15 respondents have been interviewed. Methodologically, the study
which was exploratory used descriptive survey design. During data collection, the study used both
primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using an interview schedule so as to
enable the researcher explore as many factors as possible. This data has been augmented by
secondary data mainly generated through desk study review during analysis. Further, the study
adopted a conceptual framework and a theoretical framework so as to enable integration of
various factors identified. The framework integrates social-cultural, information access and
regional factors which in varying degrees have influenced access to youth fund. Data generated
was subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The mixed analysis enabled the
researcher to capture and analyze different types of data depending on the appropriate method of
analysis. The study main findings are that lack of economic opportunities, insecurity, poor
infrastructure, inadequate information, and social-cultural factors such warrior culture
(Moranism), patriarchy have influenced the uptake of Youth Enterprise Development Fund in
Samburu East Constituency. The study recommends that there needs to be concerted efforts to
improve the infrastructure, electricity and mobile network coverage within Samburu East
Constituency to enhance a favorable business environment. It also recommends that in concert
with other agencies too, the youth fund should assist in strengthening product value chains
through infrastructure development, linking of small business to suppliers and the market and in
light of the different realities in the various counties, that the fund may consider addressing this
factor and bringing out the gaps where greater attention and support may be required to overcome
these barriers as their resolution may not come overnight but is a process during which a lot of
time which youth would have benefited if some extra support is offered may be lost. The study
has also identified some areas for further research. | en_US |
