Abstract:
The study examined the relevance of youth polytechnics’ programmes towards youth
employment in Kenya using Chepkorio and Iten Youth Polytechnics as case study.
Particularly, the study sought to establish factors that make YPs programmes not relevant
to the world of work. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, four specific research
objectives were addressed: firstly, to establish programme levels offered at the Youth
Polytechnic in Keiyo District, secondly, to establish the relationship between
contemporary job requirements and the relevance of the programmes offered by the
Youth Polytechnics in the district, thirdly, to establish the contribution of YP programmes
towards alleviation of youth unemployment and fourthly, to establish the challenges faced
by the Youth Polytechnic in their quest for market relevance programmes
The study was conducted in Chepkorio and Iten in the larger Keiyo district of Kenya. The
target population of this study comprises of youth polytechnic’s trainees, youth
polytechnic graduates, instructors, Project Managers and their deputies, employers and
opinion shaper’s from the community. Purposive and stratified random sampling
techniques were used to select a sample size of the respondents in the study area. The
study approach was both quantitative and qualitative. Data was collected using
questionnaires, interviews, observations and document analysis. Statistical package for
social scientists (SPSS) were used to analyze the data collected.
The findings of the study established the correlation between youth polytechnic
programme levels and the market relevance or employment opportunities, since a
programme level cannot be relevant in the job market and fail to offer employment-
opportunities to the trainees. The study thus concludes that the higher the programme
level, the higher the chances of access to employment. The study has also established a
correlation between employment determinants and access to employment opportunities.
When the determinants of employment are built into a programme, the programme is
enriched and thus suitable for employment. The more the determinant of employment is
integrated into the youth polytechnic programmes, the more the programmes become
marketable and thus the more they enhance the trainee’s access to the employment
opportunities. It was established that when the required knowledge and skills by
employers are incorporated into the programme, and when the job specifications are
known then the programmes will provide knowledge and skills for self-employment,
leading to enhanced access to employment.
The study will serve as an instruction for reformation of the TVET school system to go
well with the current trends in skill. In addition, the project gave focus on the process
which must be put in place if there is need to improve VET in Kenya. The findings will
inform the development of VET in Kenya. Indeed, it is anticipated that the Government
and other stakeholders will benefit from this study as a direction indicator on the way
forward in the reforming of Youth polytechnic training in Kenya. The findings will
provide policy makers, TVET development practitioners and entrepreneurs with insights
and lessons regarding the role and value of youth polytechnic in facilitating and
vsupporting the establishment and growth of micro-enterprises and how and why these can
be linked to sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction in Kenya.