Authors :
Anyumba Margaret Achieng; Dr. Yasin Gabon
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/3dkt69r2
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/5cdz4afp
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr355
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Despite the high penetration of mobile money services in Kenya, a significant gap remains between digital financial
access and the literacy required to navigate these systems safely. In peri-urban areas, youth are increasingly active in digital
finance but remain vulnerable to debt cycles, fraud, and poor financial planning due to inadequate Digital Financial Literacy
(DFL). This study aims to evaluate the impact of a structured DFL training intervention on the financial knowledge and decisionmaking behavior.
Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Financial Capability Framework, the research employs a quasiexperimental pre-test/post-test design.
The study seeks to determine if short-term, community-based training can produce measurable improvements in how youth
manage digital credit, savings, and cybersecurity. The findings will provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of localized
financial education, offering actionable insights for policymakers, NGOs, and community-based organizations to design scalable
and impactful financial inclusion programs for underserved urban youth.
Keywords :
Digital Financial Literacy, Youth Empowerment, Mobile Money, Financial Decision-Making.
References :
- Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
- Atkinson, A., & Messy, F. A. (2012). Measuring financial literacy: Results of the OECD/International Network on Financial Education (INFE) pilot study (OECD Working Papers on Finance, Insurance and Private Pensions, No. 15). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/5k9csfs90fr4-en
- Bruhn, M., Leão, L. S., Legovini, A., Marchetti, R., & Zia, B. (2016). The impact of high school financial education: Evidence from a large-scale randomized control trial in Brazil. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 8(4), 256–287. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20140149
- Central Bank of Kenya. (2023). 2022 Annual report and financial statements. https://www.centralbank.go.ke/
- FinAccess. (2021). The 2021 FinAccess household survey: Financial inclusion household survey. Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, and FSD Kenya. https://www.centralbank.go.ke/uploads/financial_inclusion/2021_FinAccess_Household_Survey.pdf
- Klapper, L., Lusardi, A., & van Oudheusden, P. (2022). Financial literacy around the world: Insights from the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services Global Financial Literacy Survey. World Bank.
- Koomson, I., Villano, R. A., & Hadley, D. (2021). Effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion and alleviating poverty: Contemporary evidence from Ghana. Social Indicators Research, 153, 465–492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02499-3
- Musau, S., & Mwangi, M. (2021). Mobile-based financial literacy interventions and savings behavior among university students in Tanzania. Journal of African Business, 22(3), 410–428. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2020.1780447
- OECD. (2018). OECD/INFE toolkit for measuring financial literacy and financial inclusion. https://www.oecd.org/financial/education/
- Oketch, J., & Odhiambo, S. (2022). Evaluating digital literacy pilot programs: A case of youth in Kisumu County, Kenya. Journal of Digital Finance and Economics, 4(1), 15–29.
- Ssewamala, F. M., Nabunya, P., Mukasa, M., Ilic, V., & Nattabi, J. (2015). Integrating financial literacy with practical savings opportunities: Outcomes for vulnerable youth in Uganda. International Social Work, 58(5), 650–664. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872814549610
- Waweru, G., & Kamau, R. (2020). Digital finance and impulsive financial behavior: A study of youth in Nairobi, Kenya. East African Journal of Business and Economics, 2(2), 45–58.
- World Bank. (2020). Digital financial services. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/financialinclusion/publication/digital-financial-services
Despite the high penetration of mobile money services in Kenya, a significant gap remains between digital financial
access and the literacy required to navigate these systems safely. In peri-urban areas, youth are increasingly active in digital
finance but remain vulnerable to debt cycles, fraud, and poor financial planning due to inadequate Digital Financial Literacy
(DFL). This study aims to evaluate the impact of a structured DFL training intervention on the financial knowledge and decisionmaking behavior.
Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Financial Capability Framework, the research employs a quasiexperimental pre-test/post-test design.
The study seeks to determine if short-term, community-based training can produce measurable improvements in how youth
manage digital credit, savings, and cybersecurity. The findings will provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of localized
financial education, offering actionable insights for policymakers, NGOs, and community-based organizations to design scalable
and impactful financial inclusion programs for underserved urban youth.
Keywords :
Digital Financial Literacy, Youth Empowerment, Mobile Money, Financial Decision-Making.