The role of youth polytechnics in preparing youths to join self- employment in Homa bay county, Kenya

The study examined the role of Youth Polytechnics in training the youth for self- employment in Homa Bay County. Unemployment among the youths rendersthem desperate and deprives them of basic means of life support which makes them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and marginalization. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of Youth Polytechnics in preparing the youths to join self-employment in Homa Bay County. The study was guided by the following objective: To examine the skills taught in Youth Polytechnics in training youths for self- employment in Homa Bay County. The study was guided by human capital theory by Theodore W. Schultz. Descriptive survey design was used and purposive sampling technique was used to get the 18 managers and 1 county vocational officer in charge of TIVET while cluster sampling was used to select 380 students out of total population of 1265. A total of 320 students responded to the questionnaires. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient was used to arrive at the relationship between the two tests. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, means, tables and graphs. Data was also analyzed using (SPSS Version 20) computer programme. The study found out that key skills like technical drawing (48.8%) and driving (30.9%) are missing from the course units in the youth polytechnics. Review of the courses was recommended to include the missing course units.