A reflection on challenges affecting youth empowerment programmes in Kenya

For the past two decades, youth empowerment has remained a rallying call among development actors in addressing the perennial unemployment challenge among the youth. However, the concept is largely unspecific and is not understood by many. Over decades, a myriad of youth empowerment programmes (YEPs) have been rolled out in Kenya by both state and non - state actors amidst efficacy and sustainability concerns. Notably, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) in Kenya, is still operational since its establishment in 2007 by the government with pronounced wide presence overtly known for provision of micro - credit to youth. The programme has drawn attention of many scholars but there is need to examine the interplay of various YEPs. The study examined the impediments by specifically unpacking how YEPs have been propagated in Kenya over the years, and modest outcomes so realized. A mixed method; a comparative survey of Nairobi; an urban setting and Trans Nzoia; a rural setting. The cross- sectional survey covered 244 youth respondents; and Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also done. The study established that nearly 70% had received post - school training through YEPs; predominantly on entrepreneurship/ business skills, with least focus paid to vocational and technical training. Majority were self-employed earning an average income of less than Kshs 10,000 a month (USD 80). Many YEPs are rolled out by both state and non - state actors but youth in disadvantaged areas have limited or no access. The state micro-credit model (YEDF) dominates the youth development space and that a near third of the respondents were beneficiaries of two or multiple YEPs (both state and non-state) latently promoting dependency syndrome. There is a weak linkage/minimal synergy of state YEPs to similar civil society owned programmes.