Factors Influencing Performance of Income Generating Enterprises Owned By Youth Living With Disabilities in Chuka/Igambang’ombe Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Income generating enterprises aim at reducing unemployment which is one of the serious problems affecting the youth living with disabilities (YLWD) in Kenya. The Kenyan government has made efforts through various development funds to enhance youth living with disability to engage in income generating enterprises. Despite the interventions, many enterprises owned by youth living with disability face several challenges in their operations. Previous studies indicate that majority of the enterprises fail within the first few months of operation. The purpose of this study was to assess factors influencing the performance of income generating enterprises for YLWD in Chuka/Igambang‟ombe Sub-County, Kenya. The study‟s objectives were to; determine the influence of entrepreneurial training, establish the influence of credit access and determine the influence of characteristics of youth living with disabilities on the performance of youth living with disability income generating enterprises. The target population for the study was 76 YLWD who own income generating enterprises. The study was a census survey where data was collected from all the respondents because they were few in number. The research used descriptive survey design and was guided by critical disability theory. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Validity of the instrument was ensured through expert judgment. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of computer statistical package for social scientists (SPSS). Results of the study indicated that entrepreneurship training, access to credit and entrepreneurial characteristics significantly affect performance of income generating enterprises owned by YLWD. Conclusion was made thatentrepreneurship training, access to credit and personal characteristics such marital status, education level and gender play an important role in performance of income generating enterprises owned by YLWD.The recommendations of the study were that;the government should roll out entrepreneurship training programmes targeting the YLWD, redesign credit programmes to overcome the barriers faced by the YLWD when accessing credit on individual basis from financial institutions and more entrepreneurial programs, workshops and affirmative actions should be enhanced to ensure equitable distribution of knowledge and skills among YLWD who own income generating Enterprises.