The Role of University Education A Perspective of Youth Empowerment in Kenya.

The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which University Education contributes to youth empowerment in Kenya. What motivates the researcher is the increasing number of youths pursuing a second degree, thinking that what they lack is education to get a job. What remains predicament is the fact that quite a number of youths still possess a mindset of permanent and pensionable job. Unemployment rate in Kenya has been increasing from 12.7% (2006) to 40% (2011). The research analyses three scenarios: university programmes, pedagogy and business attitudes of graduates. The study employed descriptive survey research design to explore the business attitudes and skills of graduates. The target population was university graduates who engage in business with a total of 75 respondents. Purposive and Snowball sampling were used to obtain 25 respondents from each county of Kericho, Bomet and Narok. The graduates who engaged in business in towns were identified and ask to identify others in turn, until the required sample was obtained. Primary data was collected using observation, interview guide and questionnaires. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) result , P≤ 0.05,(P=0.00), revealed a positive and significant relationship between youth empowerment and the role of university education. The regression coefficient of determination representing youth empowerment indicates that University education contributes 62.8% (a value of R=0.628) youth empowerment. Respondents pointed rare opportunities in their areas of specialization making them to resort to other areas for survival. The university programmes should be tailored to the modern reality in the job market to gain competitive career market.