Ng'ang'a, Rita Njambi2013-02-252013-02-252013-02-25http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6459Department of Business Administration,86p. The HD 5707 .N42 2011Youth unemployment in Kenya has been on the increase over the years. The government conceived the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) as a strategic move towards arresting youth unemployment in the country. The overall objective of this study therefore was to analyze the factors influencing the implementation of the YEDF in Westlands Constituency, Nairobi County. To achieve this, two sets of questionnaires were used to get information from YEDF management officials and some beneficiary youth groups. Descriptive survey design was used. The target population was 76 respondents and due to the small sample size, the researcher carried out a census. The overall response rate was 83% an equivalent of 63 respondents. The data collected was then analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using tables and charts enhanced by a narrative explanation. The analysis revealed that the most important factors influencing YEDF implementation were 'personnel skills' and 'government support/stakeholder involvement' at (85.7%). This was followed by the factor monitoring and evaluation' at (78.6%). Many respondents (57.2%) also felt that the government's efforts were inadequate in addressing the challenges facing the Kenyan youth. All the three factors were considered important by more than 50% of the respondents. Therefore for the fund to be a success, it's important that the government puts in more efforts by increasing the budgetary allocation to the fund, put the legal framework in place and seek ways of encouraging youth employment e.g. offer financial incentives to industries. The fund should also involve the youth more and seek for their opinions. Since personnel skills were also considered as very important to the success of the fund, the staff in the regional offices should be equipped with the necessary project management skills. The decision makers should also utilize the valuable monitoring and evaluation findings for the ultimate success of evaluation. The youth felt that they were not involved' (24.49%) as stakeholders in the implementation of the fund. Only 36.73% felt that the youth were 'very involved'. Majority of the youth respondents (61.2%) also felt that the youth fund has helped reduce youth unemployment 'very much'. They also felt that the fund should also give loans to individuals since not all of them are in youth groups.enUnemployment --Development countriesThesis