Influence of Economic Empowerment Projects on Rural Women in Mwingi North, Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

Increasingly, there is evidence that integrated approach to women’s economic empowerment in development projects contributes largely to poverty eradication in the society. Therefore it’s necessary to identify and address barriers to women economic empowerment. This research project sought to identify key factors that hinder rural women economic empowerment in Mwingi North, Kitui County. In this regard, the project was guided by four objectives; To examine the influence of cultural practices on economic empowerment projects of rural women, to establish the influence of financial access on economic empowerment, to assess the influence of self-help group formation on economic empowerment projects and to establish the influence of education levels on economic empowerment projects of rural women in Mwingi North. The study used descriptive survey design and a sample of 96 women involved in economic activities was selected and interviewed. Data was collected using structured and unstructured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. The study established that cultural practices had hand in slow economic empowerment of women as they limited women access to education which is key for their economic empowerment and development. Additionally, the study found out that community groups contributes largely to the economic empowerment of rural women. The study also established that poor financial seeking behavior and negatively affected rural women economic empowerment.