Youth Unemployment and Security in Kenya: The Case of Kwale County (2010-2018)

The study sought to examine the perceptions relating to youth unemployment in Kwale County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to identify factors influencing youth unemployment in Kwale County; to examine the effects of youth unemployment on security in Kwale County and to identify approaches that have been employed by Kenya’s government on youth unemployment and security in Kwale County. Qualitative research design was used and the target population was leaders drawn from the youth, police, Kwale County government officials, national government administration officers in Kwale County and the religious sector. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. The researcher used questionnaires for the majority of leaders, interviews for key informants and focused group discussion for the youth leaders. Data was analysed using quantitative analysis approach. The results obtained from the model were presented in tables, charts and graphs to aid in interpretation and ease with which the inferential statistics was drawn. The study has argued that youth unemployment in Kwale County has been securitised with a majority of leaders terming unemployed youth as a threat to security.