Kigundu, Teresia2024-09-302024-09-302024-04https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28977A thesis submitted to the school of law, arts and social sciences in partial fulfillment for the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy in department of sociology gender and development studies of Kenyatta University, April 2024 Supervisors: Professor Catherine Ndungo and Dr. Casper Masiga,The Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) is a deliberate effort by the Kenyan government to accelerate enterprise creation in order to create employment and as a strategic move toward poverty eradication through the socioeconomic empowerment of women. Kenya Vision 2030 established the Fund as a flagship project. Despite the government's and private sector's efforts to establish devolved funding in Kenya, their genuine impact has yet to be determined in many communities due to a lack of detailed evaluation of women's positions. Ten years after the WEF's official debut in 2007, it is still unclear to what extent the Fund's availability is boosting SMEs and enhancing women's quality of life in Kenya. In view of these discrepancies, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of WEF on socio economic empowerment of women in Embu County, Kenya between 2017 and 2022 and derive policy recommendations based on findings. The study specifically sought to evaluate the effects of lending mechanisms of WEF on socio economic empowerment of women, examine the extent to which women social networks affect the effects of WEF on socio economic empowerment of women, investigate the challenges undermining the effects of WEF on socio-economic empowerment of women and identify effective strategies for ensuring effects of WEF in socio- economic empowerment of women in Embu County, Kenya. This study was based on Finance Theory complemented by Sarah Longwe’s Gender Analytical Framework, Feminist and Social solidarity theories. The study employed a descriptive research design with the objectives of addressing stated concerns, resolving observed or posed difficulties, determining needs, and setting goals. The target population consisted of WEF beneficiary groups in Embu County, Kenya, who have accessed WEF between 2017 and 2022, CWEF officers and key informants from two constituencies namely, Manyatta and Runyenjes. The primary data collection tools were questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, and preliminary sources. The study used Cronbach's Alpha to test the reliability of the data collected before the analysis. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, median, standard deviation, and range were used to examine quantitative data, while emerging themes and patterns were utilized for analyzing qualitative data. The expected results were to enhance strategies that would ensure effects of WEF on socio- economic empowerment of women in Embu County, Kenya. The study found a positive relationship between lending mechanism, social networks and WEF socioeconomic empowerment of women. When all the explanatory variables (lending mechanisms, social networks, and challenges) are held at zero, women socio-economic empowerment would stand at 1.793 on a 5-point Likert-scale. Women Enterprise Fund was found to have a positive effect on socio-economic status of borrowers and that of their households. The most effective areas are on targeted beneficiaries, awareness on WEF existence, loan disbursement interest rate, repayment requirements, repayment period and appraisal procedures as well as sharing of information. The least effective aspects were found to be the grace period. The study recommends a system of support to help the intended recipients receive enough information about the advantages of the Women Enterprise Fund. Women-owned businesses should obtain the necessary data from the relevant organizations to be eligible for the loan. Programs for building capacity should be created with standards that cater to the needs of female entrepreneurs, particularly those who are just starting. Increased training frequency is also necessary to keep employees current with latest techniques for improved performanceenThesis