Factors Influencing Performance Of Youth Income Generating Activities. A Case Of Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Nakuru Town East, Nakuru County.

Abstract

Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) developed a three year strategic plan in 2008 in line with vision 2030 to address various needs and aspirations of the youth and to address the challenges it had faced in the past. In order to achieve its vision of creating a sustainable and growing fund, which would economically empower Kenyan Youth and their strategic partnerships, there is a need to understand the key areas under which it contributes significantly. Therefore, this study sought to explore the factors influencing the performance of youth income generating activities in Nakuru East Constituency. The research objectives were to examine the influence of training, monitoring and evaluation as well as marketing services on the performance of youth income generating activities in Nakuru East Constituency. The study adopted a descriptive research design by use of a case study. The target populations in the study comprised 84 Youth groups who have benefited from the Youth fund loans in the five administrative divisions of Nakuru East Sub County. A sample of 69 respondents was selected using Krejcie and Morgan formula. Stratified sampling method was used to obtain a representative sample from the Youth groups. The main findings were that with regards to influence of business training on YIGA business performance, the study established that a majority of the respondents ( 90%), were of the opinion that YEDF organizes trainings regularly while 11.9% were not sure with the opinion, 73.8% of the respondents were of the opinion that YEDF trains on government procurement for government contracts , while 85.7% of the respondents agreed that the training has ensured successful repayment of loans. With respect to influence of marketing services, a majority (83.3%) of the respondents were of the opinion that Marketing assists in getting customers whereas 7.1% were not sure, 9.5% disagreed to the opinion. It was also established that 57.2% of the respondents were of the opinion that it Provides product linkages to negotiate prices. Finally, in relation to influence of use M&E tools on YIGA business performance, the findings showed that 78.6% of the respondents were of the opinion that Book keeping influences to a large extent their business performances, 69% of the respondents agreed on Customer feedback whereas 11.9% were not sure. 61.9% of the respondents agreed that the Regular audits influenced performance while 28.6% disagreed to the opinion. It was also established that 69.1% of the respondents agreed that there will increased retention of old and new customers while 4.8% were not sure. The dependent variable established that 71.4% of the respondents were of the opinion that YEDF has led to increased employment opportunities while 11.9% were not sure. It was also clear that 76.2% of the respondents were of the opinion that Increase in growth of business and entrepreneurship opportunities whereas 19.0% were not sure. It was also established that 81% of the respondents were of the opinion that increased income levels while 9.5% were not sure. The study concluded therefore that, YEDF has improved the lives of the youth in significant levels and therefore empowering them. In the same scope, the improvement of the youth has not translated sustainability of the activities undertaken because of the inadequate amount of money given. The study recommends for increase in the amount of money given to the youth so that the youths can venture into diverse activities. These measures would greatly reduce possibilities of failure in their businesses due to lack of money. Performance of the youths is experienced more in groups than as individuals. It is recommended that there should be continued efforts to give loans to groups as requested by the youth and not to individuals as the government requires. The government and the youth should work together so as to find the most effective product per situation. Those who want to receive additional loans as groups after the initial amount should be allowed to do so and those who want to receive individual loans after the initial amount as individuals should also be considered.