Factors Influencing the Performance of Youths Funded Projects in South Imenti Constituency, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate factors influencing the performance of youths funded projects in South Imenti Constituency, Meru County, Kenya. The objectives of the study addressed the issues of monitoring and evaluation, market linkages, project screening and entrepreneurial training as the influencers of performance of youths funded projects in South Imenti Constituency, Meru County, Kenya. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in this research. The target population for this study was 600 youths in South Imenti Constituency. A sample size of 234 youths representing both genders was considered adequate. The study adopted purposive sampling technique so as to target a particular group and selecting the respondents who were most suited in availing information that is significance to this research. Questionnaire was used as the research instruments and data obtained was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively using SPSS. Both open-ended and close-ended questionnaires were used the key informants. In this research, descriptive statistics were used. 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 monitoring and evaluation indicates that the respondents possessed little knowledge in this area and therefore lacked M&E strategies in their groups. The Fund officers also did minimum follow up of the youths’ projects. 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 refresh and enhance new skills in their businesses. In terms of project screening, the respondents felt the need for greater involvement of the government in market linkage for their products and services especially in the government procurement process. The study also recommends that the government should invest in setting up business incubation centres in every county so that the youths can improve their entrepreneurial ideas and enhance smart business innovations.