Importance of Group Communication in Promoting Youth Development Projects: A Case of Selected Youth Groups in Nairobi, Kenya

Group communication is the interaction of group members working together to achieve a common goal. The study aimed at exploring group dynamics among the selected youth groups in Kibera, with an aim of establishing ways effective group communication can improve performance of the youth projects. Youth groups in Kibera have over the years received financial support from various sectors. Some groups do well while others remain stagnant. Development is dynamic, similarly development projects should remain vibrant. The objectives were, to find out the characteristics of youth groups in Kibera, to establish the roles played by group members and to establish how members of active and dormant youth groups exchanged information. The study applied descriptive research design. Stratified sampling where the population was divided into strata active and dormant group was used to pick a sample of 76 respondents from a target population of 920. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. Thematic and pattern analysis was used for qualitative data. Focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to collect data. The findings indicated that the dormant and active groups operated differently in terms of how they communicated within the groups. The study identified that all members of active groups were involved in group decision. Lastly, the active groups had groups’ rules that every member was supposed to adhere to. The study concluded that groups should have in place norms governing them. The study recommends that the group leaders should involve all the group members in the group activities.