Localization of small and light industries as a strategy for economic empowerment in Kibwezi sub county , Makueni county ,Kenya

Abstract

There is general appreciation of the fact that African countries still face challenges when it comes to enacting policies to develop either economically, socially and politically. This is more so in less performing economies where; trade, urbanization, and decentralization as is the case all over the world is key to assisting these countries develop in many ways. Government is the first and last resort employer because it is through legal government policies that public and private industries can be allowed to operate and empower citizens through job creation. The reason informing the study was to understand how localization of small and light industries as a strategy for economic empowerment will affect the people of Kibwezi Sub County, Makueni County, Kenya. The constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for counties to chart their own economic empowerment capacities under devolution. This puts Kibwezi Sub County in a position where it can implement and effect policies on localization of small and light industries because the available constitutional provisions qualifies Counties to directly interact with both local and international investors. The key sector of agriculture, livestock, health promotion and value chain can be harnessed to industrialize the county. The systems theory by Ludwig Bertallanffy and Behavioral location theory by Cyert and March was adopted in the study. The study utilized descriptive survey design to explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. This guided the researcher to obtain information concerning the current status of the research with description based on dependent and independent variables. Study population comprised of 34713 and a sample of 380 was utilized, using Krecjie and Morgan 1970 formula. Questionnaires and key informant interviews and document analysis were the main data collection tools besides secondary data. The research findings indicated that there was a positive relationship (R= 0.752) between the variables. From this study it is evident that at 95% confidence level, the values can be relied on to explain economic empowerment Kibwezi Sub County. The study concludes that institutions of governance, challenges of localization of small and light industries and strategies that can improve localization of small and light industries in Kibwezi Sub County, Makueni County are in a position to ensure that Localization of Small and Light Industries as a strategy for economic empowerment is enhanced and this means good policies, which can offer long term solutions such as effective job creation policies, poverty eradication policies, increased cost and controlled land rates.