Socio-economic factors influencing the performance of women income generating projects in Nakuru District, Kenya

Abstract

This study assessed the socio-economic factors that influence the performance of such income generating projects. The factors include the level of education and training of the group members, the influence of leadership on the performance of the projects, the influence of access to and control over finance, the influence of age and the influence of the gender roles on the performance of these projects. The study targeted women projects' leaders and participants. The study used descriptive survey design; In order to achieve the intended objective the study used questionnaires, focus group discussion and interview schedule to collect data in a sample of thirty six(36) subjects from a population of eighty(80) subjects chosen using simple random sampling.

The data collected was analysed by the use of the statistical package for social sciences and presented inform of frequency and percentage tables. The findings have responded to the research questions and the research objectives. Concerning the first objective the study found out that 100 % of the leaders had attained basic education. In the second objective the study found out that averagely, only 37% had been trained in general management skills. In the third objective the study found out that 80% of the women project members are self employed. This is because they have pooled together their resources and managed to start their own income generating projects. In the fourth objective the study found out that 67% of women are negatively affected by their domestic chores leading to late attendance or failure to attend meetings.

In the fifth objective the study found out that 83% of the women in the projects are those over 30 years of age who require ways of sustaining their families. The conclusion of the study was that the success of the women projects would lead to generation of employment, reduction of poverty, crime and negative social activities. The study recommended that women project leaders should be trained in general management skills, Government to formulate policies to fund women projects and men be enlightened to enable them to support the women projects. The areas suggested for further research are; the role of men in the success or failure of women projects and the role played by government funds in supporting the women projects. The results of this study will be useful to the government of Kenya, communities and policy makers' formulation of policies to support women projects. It will also assist the women groups in the areas they must emphasise in order to have successful women projects.