FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE GROWTH OF STREET CHILDREN POPULATION IN KITALE TOWN, TRANS-NZOIA COUNTY-KENYA BY KHAOYA FLYINGSTONE EDWARD A RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2014 DECLARATION This project is my original work and has not been presented to any other university. Signature…………………………………………………Date……………… Khaoya Flyingstone Edward Reg.No. L50/62132/2013 This project has been submitted for review with my approval as university supervisor Signature…………………………………………………Date……………… Mr. Yona Sakaja. Lecturer Department of Extra Mural Studies University of Nairobi ii DEDICATION This project is dedicated to my dear wife Nancy , my daughters Brenda , Favor, Gift, Esther, and Treasure my mother Elizabeth Naliaka all my brothers and sisters who encouraged me to carry out this tedious but rewarding work. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My thanks go to My Supervisor Mr. Sakaja for his tireless guidance throughout the writing of this project and very quick responses in addressing issues necessary for the successful completion of this work in good time.I also acknowledge the input of my lecturers especially Dr. Odundo and Mr. Ochieng all of the University of Nairobi for their role in introducing me to research methods during the first semester of my Study in the University of Nairobi which prepared me for this worthwhile project. My special tribute goes to Mr Julius Koringura the resident lecturer in Kitale Campus and Mr Patrick Simiyu, for their support during the entire period of my proposal writing especially in the provision of necessary help in the acquisition of necessary literature for the study. I won’t fail to acknowledge the immense help accorded to me by my Student colleagues, especially Samari Sabila for the support accorded to me in this course. It would not have been possible without their encouragement throughout the process of this project.Finally, I acknowledge the tireless help offered to me by Madam Mercy Kageha an Information Technology (IT) expert that helped me to do typesetting and printing while making sure that the whole work is in line with the guidelines of project writing as provided by the University of Nairobi. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE DECLARATION ........................................................................................... ii DEDICATION .............................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................. v ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................ ix LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................... x ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ........................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of The Problem ......................................................................... 4 1.3 Purpose of Study ........................................................................................ 7 1.4 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................. 7 1.5 Research Questions ................................................................................. 7 1.6 Significance of the Study ........................................................................... 8 1.7 Delimitation of the Study .......................................................................... 8 1.8 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................ 9 1.9 Basic Assumptions of the Study .............................................................. 10 1.10 Definition of Significant Terms as used in the Study ............................ 11 1.11 Organization of the Study ...................................................................... 11 CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................... 14 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 14 2.2 Economic factors and Street Children ..................................................... 14 2.3 Social Factors and Street Children .......................................................... 16 2.4 Political factors and street Children ........................................................ 19 2.5 Cultural Factors and street Children ........................................................ 20 2.6 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 21 2.7 Conceptual framework ............................................................................ 22 2.8 Summary of Literature Review ............................................................... 24 CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................... 26 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 26 v 3. 2 Research Design ..................................................................................... 26 3.3 Target Population .................................................................................... 26 3.4 Sample size and sampling procedure. ..................................................... 27 3.4.1 Sample Size .......................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Sampling procedure .............................................................................. 27 3.5 Data Collection Tools .............................................................................. 29 3.5.1 Piloting of the instruments .................................................................... 29 3.5.2 Validity of the instruments ................................................................... 30 3.5.3 Reliability Of Research Instrument ...................................................... 30 3.6 Data Collection Procedure ....................................................................... 31 3.7 Data analysis techniques .......................................................................... 31 3.8 Ethical consideration ............................................................................... 32 3.9 Operationalization of variables ................................................................ 33 CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................... 34 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 34 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 34 4.2 Sample Response Rate ............................................................................ 35 4.3 Demographic Characteristics of Sample ................................................. 35 4.3.1 Gender Distribution .............................................................................. 36 4.3 Education Level of Street Children ......................................................... 38 4.3.4 How Long Children Have Been on the Streets .................................... 39 4.4 Influence of Economic Factors On The Increase of Street Children Population ...................................................................................................... 41 4.Political Influence on Growth of Street Children ....................................... 50 4.6 Social factors and Street Children Growth .............................................. 51 4.7 Cultural Influence on the Growth Street Children .................................. 56 CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................... 58 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................ 58 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 58 5.2 Summaries of the findings ....................................................................... 58 5.2.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents ........................................ 58 vi 5.2.2 Economic factors and the street Children population ........................... 59 5.2.3 Social Factors and Street Children ....................................................... 60 5.2.4 Political Factors and Street Children growth ........................................ 61 5.2.5 Cultural Factors and Street Children .................................................... 62 5.3 Conclusions on the findings ...................................................................