MICROFINANCE SERVICES AND WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA
MICROFINANCE SERVICES AND WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA
Dateus Nateminya Kiema - Student, Master of Business Administration (Entrepreneurship), Kenyatta University, Kenya
Mary Namusonge - Senior Lecturer Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Women’s economic empowerment is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in strengthening households and communities. This study investigated how microfinance services assist women in becoming more economically empowered in Kajiado County. Specifically, it examined the influence of access to credit and credit policy on women’s empowerment, with a focus on KWFT. The study was anchored in microfinance credit theory, supplemented by institutional theory, human capital theory, and empowerment theory. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population comprised 1,208 women enrolled in Kenya Women Microfinance Bank programs across five sub-counties in Kajiado. A sample of 242 women was selected through cluster and proportionate stratified random sampling. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and interview guides. Beneficiaries of microfinance services responded to the questionnaires, while KWFT programme managers served as key informants and provided responses to the interview guide. A pilot test was conducted with 24 women beneficiaries of microfinance services in Narok County. Validity was assessed through expert opinions, while reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients at the 0.7 threshold. Quantitative data were coded, entered into SPSS, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data underwent content analysis and were presented thematically. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to establish the relationships between variables and to determine the strength of each independent variable in influencing the dependent variable. The study found strong, positive, and significant relationships between access to credit and credit policy and women’s economic empowerment. It concluded that women’s economic empowerment was evident in income generation, asset accumulation, and decision-making power. The study recommends that microfinance institutions develop programmes focusing on financial literacy, interest-rate-based credit policies, and tailored training to meet women’s business needs.
