Table Banking and Women Economic Empowerment in Nakuru County, Kenya
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Date
2023-12
Authors
Minja, David
Kimani, Elishiba
Makhamara, Felistus
Moi, Edna
Mdoe, Jackson
Gachanja, Paul
Oringo, James
Onditi, James
Kirima, J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJYWE
Abstract
This publication is part of a wider study which aims at evaluating Women Economic
Empowerment programme, which is being implemented by the Women Empowerment
Link (WEL) in several counties across Kenya, since 2015. In Nakuru the programme targeted
grassroot women in table banking. To make the evaluation comprehensive in determining
the level of women economic empowerment, this study adopted Kabeer’s (2005) theoretical
framework for measuring women’s empowerment. The objective of the study was to
establish the extent to which table banking had increased women economic empowerment
in Nakuru County. Specifically, the study sought to assess the extent to which; the WEL’s
project had enhanced women’s participation in county governance, women’s participation
in the project had increased access to services and resources; and finally Identify success
stories, lessons learnt and challenges that women in the project encountered. The study
reached a total of 206 out of the 473 women who had been trained on basic financial
literacy from 35 table banking groups. In each of the selected groups, three officials (the
chairperson, secretary and the treasurer) and three members participated in the study. Key
informants, 2 gender officers, 1 gender champion also participated. Data analysis revealed
that 80% of the women were business owners, 10.21% were employed while 6.6% were
domestic workers. The study’s findings revealed that WEL’s programme on Strengthening
Inclusive Leadership had mixed results in enhancing participation of women in leadership
and governance. Only half of the women at 49.51% had offered themselves for leadership
and governance positions yet their capacities and availability to participate in leadership
and governance were rated very high. The study also found that women’s participation in
the WEL’s project had increased access to services, resources and women’s participation
in governance opportunities to a large extent. Finally, the study appreciated that the WEL
project in Nakuru targeted most vulnerable, low income i.e., economically vulnerable
grassroots women. Among the obstacles found to be hindering Women Economic
Empowerment were poverty, high level of illiteracy and lack of information. Among other
recommendations, women requested additional seed capital from either WEL or County
Government to increase their borrowing power within their groups and expand adult literacy
programme by the County Government. The study also recommended concerted campaign
to include more women in leadership and governance.
Description
Article
Keywords
Table Banking, Women, Economic Empowerment, Nakuru County
Citation
Minja, D., Kimani, E., Makhamara, F., Moi, E., Mdoe, J., Gachanja, P., ... & Kirima, J. (2023). Table Banking and Women Economic Empowerment in Nakuru County, Kenya. American Journal of Youth and Women Empowerment, 2(2), 18-24.