Structural Disempowerment and the Mentorship Vacuum: Entrepreneurial Mentorship and Youth Economic Empowerment in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements, Kenya

Timothy Osiru Okatta, Violet Nekesa Simiyu and James Sankale
Department of Social Sciences and Development Studies
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Email: timothyokatta@gmail.com

Abstract: Youth economic empowerment in Nairobi’s informal settlements is constrained more by the collapse of mentorship and support systems than by a lack of motivation or entrepreneurial potential. This study examined the contribution of entrepreneurial mentorship to youth economic empowerment using a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 339 youth entrepreneurs aged 18–35 years in Kibera, Mathare 4A, Kangemi, and Mukuru kwa Ruben, while qualitative data were obtained through six key informant interviews with community leaders, civil society practitioners, and a government official. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression models, while qualitative data were analysed thematically using NVivo. Findings showed that entrepreneurial mentorship significantly improved youth economic empowerment, with mentored youth reporting higher empowerment scores (M = 3.34, SD = 0.455) than non-mentored youth (M = 2.86, SD = 0.642; t = 7.963, p < .001). Regression analysis confirmed mentorship as a significant predictor of economic empowerment in both simple and multivariate models. Qualitative findings revealed four key themes: the collapse of formal mentorship structures, the transformative benefits of existing mentorship opportunities, barriers related to poverty and substance abuse, and the growing importance of peer mentorship. The study introduces the concept of structural mentorship conflict, arguing that rebuilding mentorship systems should be treated as a core structural intervention rather than a supplementary programme for promoting sustainable youth economic empowerment in urban informal settlements.