Socio-economic Factors Influencing Youth Participation in Community Development Projects: Evidence from Fafi Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Youth engagement in community development is an important driver of long-term socioeconomic reform.  However, youth participation remains low in deprived areas such as Fafi Sub-County in Garissa County. This study examined the socio-economic factors influencing youth participation in community development projects in Fafi Sub-County, Garissa County. The study was anchored on Social Capital Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting 178 participants. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 28. The regression model revealed that the combined socio-economic factors explained 82.5% of the variance in youth participation in development projects. Social factors had insignificant effects on participation (B = 0.080, p = 0.168). Conversely, economic factors (B = 0.127, p = 0.029) and government policies with institutional support (B = 0.413, p = 0.000) had significant effect on youth participation in community development project in Fafi Sub-County, Garissa County. The study concludes that enhancing youth involvement requires a adequate financial support effective institutional support from Government alongside strengthening community networks. It recommends targeted policy reforms, capacity-building programs, and structured mentorship to empower youth as active contributors to sustainable development in marginalized counties.