Understanding the effect of educational attainment and unemployment on youth engagement in conflicts in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the extensive damage caused by violent conflicts with subsequent social and economic costs have posed a real concern that needs to be urgentlly addressed. The provision of quality education is a force that can be utilized to curb constant conflicts within society. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of the educational attainment and unemployment on youth engagement in conflicts in Machakos County. The study was carried out in Machakos County and targeted the youth incarcerated in two prisons located in Machakos town, Machakos County. The sample was 168 responednds consisting of both male and female youth between 18-34 years. Descriptive survey design was used. The study used Semi-Structured questionnaires to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniquesassisted by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. From the findings, a close link between the level of education and youth engagement in conflicts was established. The study findings indicates a statistically significant relationship between the level of education and the conflicts among the youths as illustrated by P>0.05. The study established that the youth with low levels of education were also the group that lacked employment and reported cases of conflicts and crimes. From the study, most of the youths who engaged in conflicts had low levels of education as reported by 49.4% of respondents and mostly were those who had never completed basic education, lacked basic skills required in the labour market and were found to earn less than two dollars a day. The study recommends that the government come up with affirmative action to empower such groups to engage in productive activities to enable them to earn a living.