Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The question of challenges encountered by the youths in any society is very critical. It is estimated that the youths represent a big percentage of the population in the society and therefore they cannot be ignored, Kenyan Constitution (2010). Nevertheless, the youths are faced with numerous challenges in their daily lives. Although many scholars have written much on Walibora‟s literary works, not much has been done on the challenges facing the youths as characters in his novels. This research therefore dealt with how the author exposed the challenges facing the youth characters as well as the impact of those challenges on the lives of the youth and the society. The researcher critically analysed how various language devices were used by the writer to expose those challenges as depicted in Kufa Kuzikana, Ndoto ya Almasi and Kidagaa Kimemwozea.This research was guided by the theory of realism whose function is to portray the truth as it is. Realism theory deals with real and true presentation of issues in literary works. A realist believes that any literary work should place the members of the society in their ordinary environment. Two pillars of realism theory were applied in this research, that is; the pillar that emphasizes on direct imitation of the reality in the surrounding environment and secondly, the pillar that examines how language devices are used to portray realism in character and theme exposition. Research design in this research was purely descriptive. Youth characters and the challenges encountered by this group in Walibora‟s novels was the target population. The main place of research was the selected novels which were read intensively and extensively and data collected in written form. The methodology used in data collection was perusal and content analysis. A descriptive qualitative analysis was used in analyzing data based on research objectives. The selection of the study novels was done purposively on the basis of the fact that they were likely to be embedded with current themes on challenges facing the youth since majority of the characters were youths.. It was hoped that the outcome of this research will be a reference point by the critiques, scholars and researchers of literary works, language and linguistics and also help create awareness in the society on the challenges faced by the youths. The challenges exposed included tribalism, oppression, poverty, corruption and drug abuse. Those challenges had effects such as: school drop-out, early-unwanted pregnancies, death and injuries. The researcher recommended inclusivity of real challenges faced by the youths and the subsequent solutions to such challenges in the education system so as to enlighten both the adults and the young on this challenges.
