Relationship Between Motivation and Students’ Participation in Co-Curricular Activities in Public Secondary Schools in Matayos Sub-County, Kenya

This study examined the relationship between student motivation and participation in co-curricular activities in public secondary schools in Matayos Sub-County, Kenya. School management plays an important role in both students’ academic and co-curricular performance. However, despite ongoing efforts, students' participation in co-curricular activities in Matayos Sub-County remains low. Anchored on Glasser’s Choice Theory (1988), the study adopted a descriptive correlational research design with a target population of 751 Form Three students, 69 coaches, 23 Games Heads of Department, and 23 principals. Students were selected through proportionate allocation and simple random sampling, while coaches, Games Heads of Department, and principals were targeted through census sampling. Data were collected using open- and closed-ended questionnaires and principal interviews. The instruments were piloted in two schools in a neighbouring sub-county, and reliability was assessed using the test–retest method. Quantitative data were processed using SPSS version 29, with descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation applied, whereas qualitative interview data were examined through thematic analysis. Motivation was positively associated with participation (r = .564, p < .001). Regression analysis showed that motivation accounted for 31.8 per cent of the variance in participation (R² = .318). Principal interviews described inconsistent formal reward practices, providing context for mixed ratings of motivational support. Higher motivation scores were associated with higher participation scores. The study recommends that principals formalise consistent motivational strategies to support student involvement in co-curricular activities. These findings provide context-specific evidence to inform school-level practices for strengthening motivation and increasing co-curricular participation among secondary-school students in Matayos Sub-County.