Single Parenting, Child Development and Socio-Economic Status of Youth Entrepreneurs in Southlands Estate, Nairobi City County
Abstract
The socio-economic status (SES) of a youth entrepreneur is most commonly determined by combining parents educational level, occupational status, and income level. The Kenyan Government recognizes that access to entrepreneurial skills development among the youths is key to the growth and development of any enterprise. The possible reasons for youth unemployment are mostly centered on lack of enough available jobs, inadequate work experience and lack of startup capital. The study sought to establish relationship between single parenting and socio-economic status of youth entrepreneurs in Southlands Estate Nairobi County, determine the mediating effect of child development on the relationship between single parenting and socio-economic status of youth entrepreneurs and to establish the joint effect of single parenting, child development on socio-economic status of youth entrepreneurs in Southlands Estate Nairobi County. The study was anchored on two theories, the Social learning theory and Resource based view theory. Target Population was 250 shop owners within southlands estate in Nairobi City County. The findings it was noted that there is a clear gap between children brought up by single parenting and the ones brought up by a dual parent mode of parenting. In this regard, the youth entrepreneurs from single parent find it difficult to set up income generating activities due to challenges in raising required start-up capital for business and lack of proper level of education exposure. It was recommended that, the parents and especially singe parents, should ensure they give full support to motivate their children to venture into Entrepreneurship and the government should consider introducing programs in the school curriculum that support entrepreneurship as an alternative source to employment.
Key words: Socio-economic status, Small Medium Enterprises, International Labour Organisation, Kenya Institute of Management
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