INFLUENCE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES ON HOUSEHOLD DECISION MAKING IN NAROK NORTH SUB COUNTY, NAROK COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

According to the World Bank research, women's empowerment is the improvement of their ability to make formerly restricted strategic life choices. Notwithstanding progress, women's involvement in decision-making—especially in pastoralist cultures and underdeveloped countries—remarks on still remain under close scrutiny. The impact of women's empowerment projects on household decision-making in Narok North Sub-County is investigated in this paper. The aim is to assess how programs in health care, microfinance, and capacity building affect women's involvement in household decisions. Descriptive survey methodology combined with systems theory and feminist philosophy forms the foundation of the research. From 59,996 houses in Narok North Sub-County, a sample of 382 respondents was acquired using cluster, simple random, and purposive selection methods. While secondary data were obtained via document analysis, primary data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Population parameters were estimated by means of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 27 evaluation of quantitative data. The results show that women's family decision-making is much influenced by all evaluated variables: microfinance programs, health care projects, and capacity development. Descriptive data, tables, and charts displaying the results of the research highlight how well these initiatives help women participate in family decisions. The results of this research are significant: it shows the effectiveness of empowerment programs and the importance of providing women with better possibilities for capacity-building. This may inspire women's more active involvement in decision-making procedures. The government should improve capacity-building initiatives to empower women with the knowledge and tools necessary for effective home decision-making.