The effects of Merry go Round Strategy on Women Economic Empowerment in Kwale County
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Date
2013-08-24
Authors
Kivatsi, Sami Athman
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Abstract
Even though millions of women all over the world contribute a lot to the national agricultural
output and family food security, several studies from Sub Saharan Africa reveal that rural
women are credit constrained than men of equivalent socio economic conditions. Therefore, rural
women, who form the majority of the rural population, are exposed to economic disability.
Kwale County in Kenya being part of the larger Sub Saharan Africa is not an exception. Kwale
District Development Plan 2008-2012 paper indicates that women in Kwale dominate the labor
force. They are however less empowered economically compared to their male counterparts.
Empowerment and improvement of women's socio-economic status is vital for achievement of
the necessary community development. This study investigated the extent by which Merry Go
Round as a strategy for savings and credit among the poor women in Kwale County in Kenya
empowers women in establishing their own income generating activities (IGA). The study
sought to investigate on the positive effects of Merry Go Round groups among the poor women
in Kwale County. The variables of study therefore were; sustaining their household needs,
increased participation in community development initiatives and achieving their basic social
security needs. The Objectives of the study were; to establish the extent by which Merry Go
Round has empowered women to establish their own income generating activities (IGA);
assessment of the success of Merry Go Round in sustaining household needs; Assessment of
increased participation in community development programs by the women in Kwale County
and the extent of improved social security needs such as food, education, healthcare, and shelter.
The area of study was Kwale County and the target population for the study was all the 116
active Merry Go Round groups in the County. The researcher used Descriptive research design
in this study. Cluster sampling, a method within the Probabilistic sampling techniques was used
to select a sample size of 12 women groups out of the target population in the three clustered
districts of Kwale County. The data was collected by use of questionnaires. Both frequency
distribution tables and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The expected
finding on this research was that women Merry Go Round groups; assists the poor women in
creating income generating activities, enables women in Kwale to meet their household needs,
encourage increased participation by women on community development projects, assists
women in attaining basic social security needs. The research findings were that Merry Go Round
has succeeded as a strategy in sustaining household needs for the women in Kwale County, it has
achieved in putting women in Kwale County on the forefront by motivating and encouraging
them to embrace increased participation in community development activities. It has enabled
Kwale County women meet their basic social security needs. In conclusion, the women Merry
Go Round is an effective strategy for economic empowerment of the poor women in Kwale
County. Therefore the researcher recommends that the Devolved Governments should give
incentives for women who have been in women Merry Go Round groups for a long period.
Commercial banks should also lend to members of women Merry Go Round groups against their
long serving membership in those registered groups. Also the Government should deploy
training ag~nts to ~J] the devolved Counties in Kenya to monitor, guide and train the women
members of Merry Go Round groups on how to handle their finances, how to market their output
and on business entrepreneurship.