The Role Of The Youth In Oversight Of Elgeyo Marakwet County Finance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study aimed at establishing the role of the youth in oversight of County finance in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Three research objectives guided the study. The study sought to examine how the youth perform their role in oversight of County finance; assess the mechanisms available to the youth for performing their oversight role in County finance and investigate how Elgeyo Marakwet County government enhances youth oversight in County finance. A review of literature was conducted to determine the existing knowledge gap on the role of the youth participation in oversight of County finance. The study was guided by Agency theoretical framework. Agency relationship is defined as a situation where one party (principal) appoints another (agent) to perform services on their behalf and delegates decision making authority to them. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample comprised of 100 youth. To arrive at a representative sample used in the study, Slovin’s sample size determination formula was used. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, interviews and Focused Group Discussions and was analyzed by use of qualitative and quantitative technique then presented using frequency tables. The data collected from questionnaires was cleaned, coded and analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) by the help of Microsoft Excel spread sheet computer programs. The findings show that majority 63 (70.0%) of the respondents had participated in oversight of Elgeyo Marakwet County finance whereas 27 (30.0%) of the respondents had not participated. Findings also show that some of the mechanisms used by the youth to perform their oversight role include; 46 (51.1%) Elgeyo Marakwet County Budget and Economic Forum, 42 (46.7%) public meetings, 8 (8.9%) Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys while 17 (18.9%) social audits and 38 (42.2%) Information Communication Technology. On how Elgeyo Marakwet County government enhances youth participation in oversight of Elgeyo Marakwet County finances and majority 61 (67.8%) of the respondents said that Elgeyo Marakwet County government provides information to them, 58 (64.4%) mentioned that Elgeyo Marakwet County government creates awareness whereas 26 (28.9%) stated capacity building. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the study concluded that a high number of youth have participated in oversight of County finance through budgeting process, creating awareness to the youth and general public, reading and commenting on quarterly Budget implementation report and public vetting of public officers. The study further concluded that Elgeyo Marakwet County Budget and Economic Forum and public meetings are the popular mechanisms used by youth. The Elgeyo Marakwet County government enhances youth participation in oversight of County finance. The study concluded the Elgeyo Marakwet County government enhances youth participation in oversight of County finance by providing information to the youth, conducting capacity building and also creating awareness. Based on the findings the study recommended that the Elgeyo Marakwet County government should conduct intensive and extensive civic education and awareness creation. Those conducting public meetings and Elgeyo Marakwet County Budget and Economic forums should consider using the local language during such forums or making use of interpreters in addition to providing materials in a language that the locals understand and that there is need for the youth to take up an active role in awareness creation to the youth and adults who do not seem to appreciate their need for participation in oversight of Elgeyo Marakwet County finances. The study suggested that a study on factors affecting youth in their participation in oversight of Elgeyo Marakwet County finance and effects of youth participation in other governance processes to be conducted in further studies.