WOMEN’S WELFARE IN JUJA SUBCOUNTY, KENYA
WOMEN’S WELFARE IN JUJA SUBCOUNTY, KENYA
Francisca Kanini Sunkuli
Master of Development Studies, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Prof. M. M. Sakwa
Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Inadequate participation in economic activities makes it difficult for individuals to provide for their daily needs pressurizing them to seek intervention from the government or well-wishers. To a greater extent, it is women who have been severely affected because of their pivotal role of taking close care of households and keeping a close relationship with children. Majority of the women have no access to mainstream banking either by choice, fate or due to deep rooted cultural and socioeconomic factors that for a long time have worked to the women’s disadvantage. The general objective of this study was to determine the socio-economic determinants of participation in table banking among women in Juja Sub-county, Kenya. The research examined how women welfare is affected by availability of funds and, groups’ leadership. The study was guided by Social Exchange theory and Pecking Order theory. The study used the descriptive research design. The target population of this study was 961 women groups participating in table banking in Juja Sub County. The sample was chosen using simple random sampling to participate in the study giving a sample size of 282 respondents. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were self-administered through drop and pick later method. All the questionnaires received were referenced and items in the questionnaire were coded to facilitate data entry. After data cleaning which entailed checking for errors in entry, descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation were estimated for all the quantitative variables and information presented in-form of tables and figures. The qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analyzed using content analysis. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. The study found that financial management had empowered them on setting aside money to take care of emergencies. The study also revealed that majority of the women believed that the group leaders were transparent and accountable and guided them well, but were not certain whether their group leaders were democratic and trustworthy. The study concluded that financial literacy had the greatest effect on participation in table banking on women’s welfare in Juja Sub County, followed by gender based obligations, then funds availability, then social capital, while group’s leadership had the least effect on the participation in table banking on women’s welfare in Juja Sub County. The study concluded that funds availability affected the participation in table banking on women’s welfare in Juja Sub County (β= 0.923, p=0.014<0.05). The study concluded that leadership (β= 0.653, p<0.010<0.05) affected the participation in table banking on women’s welfare in Juja Sub County. The study recommends that the government should establish policies to govern the operation of table banking; spelling out securitization of the practice. The study further recommends that groups should have access to fringe benefits such as ability to bank at zero rate charge; and loaning at relatively low interest rates than the real-time market rates. To enhance credit accessibility among table banking group members government development programs should ensure that members can access more funds for their entrepreneurial activities.
