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

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.