Factors Influencing Women Empowerment Through Microfinance Programmes In Central Division Of Narok North Sub County, Keny

Abstract

ABSTRACT Microfinance is one program that has helped women from various spheres to understand how they can take advantage of the situation and empower themselves for improving their livelihood. Despite the development of many NGOs and microfinance programmes in Narok County, the participation of women is still very low. Women are faced with many challenges which could be addressed through the MFP yet many of them remain intimidated by factors such as culture that denies them the chance to raise their voice in protest. The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing women empowerment through microfinance programmes in Central Division, Narok North Sub County. The specific objectives of the study were to evaluate the influence of financial security, influence of culture, influence of leadership and the level of information access on women empowerment through microfinance programmes in Central Division, Narok North Sub County. The study adopted the women in development theory from which the conceptual framework was developed. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The target population comprised of 50 women groups with a maximum of 12 members affiliated to KWFT in central division of Narok North sub County. The sample size constituted of 10% of the target population resulting to a sample of 60 women. A questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. The questionnaire was pilot tested to test for validity and reliability. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages computed using SPSS software version 21. The findings of the study were presented using tables and figures. The study established an association between financial security and women empowerment through microfinance, the study also established that there is an association between women empowerment and the socio-cultural factors among women who participated in microfinance programmes. The study also established that there was a significant association between information access and women empowerment through participation in microfinance, the study established that social intermediation had the highest association with women empowerment through participation in microfinance programmes. Based on the findings the study concluded that social intermediation and access to information have the highest influence of the empowerment of women by participation in microfinance. The study also noted that there was a moderately positive significant correlation between the four variables combined together. The effect of the relationship was explained by the R-square which indicated that women level of empowerment increased by 20% given the four factors. The study concludes that women empowerment is influenced by social intermediation, information access, socio-cultural factors and financial security. It was also concluded that the findings of the study support the theory of women empowerment. It recommends that policy makers should consider the effectiveness of social intermediation in ensuring women empowerment other than focus on financial security. The findings of the study are expected to be beneficial to the community, the microfinance institutions and other stakeholders who benefit either directly or indirectly. The Government also is expected to benefit through improved implementation of community development projects and development at the community level generally.