Factors Influencing Women Economic Empowerment In Kirima Sub Location, Ndungiri Location, Nakuru North District, Kenya

Abstract

The economic empowerment of women is the most important step in enabling the empowerment of women in other aspects like political and social. Economic independence of women is the key to achieving women rights and making independent decisions on financial matters. The economic empowerment of women in Kirima Sub Location is affected by many factors; both positive and negative. The study purposed to establish factors influencing women‟s economic empowerment in kirima sub location, in this regard the study was guided by four objectives: To establish influences of gender roles on economic empowerment of women, to determine influences of demographic factors on economic empowerment of women, to assess influences of financial facilities towards women economic empowerment and to establish how activities of stakeholders influences women economic empowerment. The study adapted discripto-explanatory design. The study targeted all women in 1122 households in Kirima sub location. A sample size of 286 households was used and the sampling procedure applied was probability sampling in this case systematic random method. Closed ended questionnaires were used together with an interview schedule that enabled collection of primary data. The analysis of the study comprised both descriptive and inferential statistics due to the nature of the data collected. The study established on a large extent demographic factors influencing women economic empowerment, χ²= 73.466(0.000<0.05), gender roles greatly interfered with women economic engagement r = -.355 (0.000)< (0.05), financial facilities influences on women economic empowerment χ²=17.593(0.01<0.05) and activities of stakeholders influences on women empowerment r = .147*(0.030) <(0.05). The study recommended need for the government to take a proactive role in containing family sizes, Society should strive to actively reduce gender discriminatory norms and practice, there should be an increase in awareness on the roles of stakeholders and need for financial institutions to work with count governments to implement devolution. The study ought to be of significance to the community, fellow researchers, and the body of knowledge, policy makers and curriculum developers.