Influence of church policies on the economic empowerment of the youth

Abstract

Kenyan youths have been marginalized from mainstream economic activities since independence. This situation has had a negative impact such as slowed economic growth, a rise in crime and violence, and the spread of diseases. It is these issues that have prompted this study on the influence of church policies on the economic empowerment of youths with a specific focus on the PCEA Nyahururu Parish. The study was guided by the Positive Youth Development model. It employed the descriptive research design and targeted a population of 233respondents comprising of 220 youths and 13 leaders (2 congregation chairpersons, 1 clergy, 1 evangelist, 1 youth coordinator, and 8 youth leaders). From this population, a sample of 94respondentswas selected using the clustered random sampling method where the two congregations that make up the PCEA Nyahururu Parish formed the clusters. Quantitative data was collected from youths using structured questionnaires while qualitative data was collected from the church administrators using interview guides. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and means as well as inferential statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic content analysis technique and results reported using quotes. Findings revealed that there is a low level of economic empowerment among the youths at the PCEA Nyahururu parish. Church policies on single parenthood and divorce/ separation have a statistically significant and negative contribution towards youth economic empowerment. Church policies on the use of modern technologies have a positive and statistically significant relationship with youth economic empowerment. The study recommends that churches should re-examine its policies in single parenthood and divorce/ separation.

Keywords: {'name': 'Church policies, youth, economic empowerment, single parenthood, cohabitation, PCEA, Kenya'}

Authors & affiliations

Mercy Karanu
Affiliation not supplied

Peter Koome
Affiliation not supplied

Paul Omato Gesimba
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.4314/afrrev.v7i4.17

Awiti, A., & Scott, B. (2016). The Kenya youth survey report. Nairobi: The Agha Khan University.

DOI: 10.4102/hts.v73i3.4771

DOI: 10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0116

DOI: 10.1177/2059799116672875

DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v6-i5/2141

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780199689453.

DOI: 10.24327/ijcar.2017.2410.0018

Burger, F. (2004). Church management basics. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse. ISBN: 9780595307531.

County Government of Laikipia (2018). County integrated development plan for Laikipia. Nairobi: Government Printer.

Daniel, K. (2010). The role of women in the church in Africa. International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 2(6), 126- 139. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228675417_The_role_of_women_in_the_Church_in_Africa.

DOI: 10.19157/JTSP.issue.04.01.06

General Assembly Moderator (2015). Moderator’s report to the 21st General Assembly-April 2015. Nairobi: PCEA.

Hernandez, J., Noruzi, M., & Irani, F. (2011). What is policy, social policy and social policy changing. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(10), 287- 291. HAL Id: hal-00817798https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00817798.

DOI: 10.18666/JPRA-2017-V35-I1-6840

DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2012.657657

DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2018.1528709

DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2015.1067893

Kagendo, P. (2017). Single mothers and parenting in Kenya: The case of Zimmerman, Nairobi County (Unpublished thesis). Nairobi University, Kenya.

Karombo, T. (2018). Current situations affecting the lives of young people in Africa and their expectations. Rome: The Synod of Bishops.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-43645-6_1

Maina, M. (2015). Challenges of ministering to the youth: A case study of Presbyterian Church of East Africa Langata Parish, Nairobi County (Unpublished thesis). University of Nairobi, Kenya.

DOI: 10.6007/IJARAFMS/v6-i3/2204

DOI: 10.5195/JYD.2016.457

Moller, F. (2013). Cohabitation and Christian faith. In the Scriptural Light, 47(1), 18-26. http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2305-08532013000100003&lng=en&tlng=en.

Mugure, J. (2013). Effectiveness of socio-economic projects on youth empowerment in Nakuru Municipality Kenya (Unpublished thesis). University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Muriungi, N. (2013). Influence of empowerment programmes on youth retention in the church: The case of churches in Tigania Sub-County, Meru County (Unpublished thesis). University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Nassiuma D. (2000). Survey sampling: Theory and methods. Njoro, Kenya: Egerton University Press.

PCEA (2019). About us. Retrieved 21 November 2019 from http://pcea.or.ke/index.php/about-us.

Pew Research Centre (2016). The gender gap in religion around the world. Retrieved 10th May 2020 from https://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/22/the-gender-gap-in-religion-around-the-world/.

DOI: 10.4102/hts.v73i3.4352

Samuel Hall (2017). Youth employment in Kenya. Retrieved 20th November, 2019 from https://www.britishcouncil.co.ke/sites/default/files/ng_kenya_youth_employment_in_kenya.pdf.

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3520627

DOI: 10.1080/13644361003603074

Vaughn, S. (2016). Why millennial are leaving the church: A qualitative study analysing multiple factors contributing to the decline in millennial engagement within the church (Unpublished thesis). Appalachian State University, USA.

Virginia Commonwealth University (2015). Young Men Christian Association. Retrieved 3 October 2019 from https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/youth/young-mens-christian-association/.

Wakanyi, L. (2018). Christian response to the phenomenon of single-parenthood in Nairobi (Unpublished thesis). Kenyatta University, Kenya.

Waweru, H., & Wamukoya, J. (2018). Theology of cohabitation among the youth in the Kenyan Catholic Church. International Journal of Innovative Research and Knowedge, 3(4), 94-107.

DOI: 10.4102/hts.v71i2.2973

Welch, R. (2011). Church administration: Creating efficiency for effective ministry. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.

World Bank (2015). Youth as emerging development issue in Kenya. Nairobi: World Bank.