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Microcredit and Women Empowerment in Kabartonjo Division: Baringo County, Kenya

Received: 18 October 2016    Accepted: 2 November 2016    Published: 29 November 2016
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Abstract

Women empowerment is a theme which has attracted interest from various organizations, government agencies and individuals from all sectors of the Kenya national economy. The study sought to establish the role of microcredit institutions on women empowerment in terms of credit and cost of microcredit. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through field research using questionnaire and interview schedule, while secondary data was collected from performance records. The study employed explanatory research design. The population of the study comprised of 514 women and 3 microcredit institutions in Baringo County, Kenya. Random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The respondents comprised of members of the women groups and both managers and employees of the microcredit institutions. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics mainly measures of central tendencies, regression, analysis of variance and correlation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to ease analysis. The study found positive significant relationship between access to microcredit and women empowerment (β=0.771, p-value=0.000 and R square=0.694 or 69.4%). The study also found positive significant relationship between cost of credit and women empowerment (β=0.604, p-value=0.005 and R square=0.765 or 76.5%). The results suggest that microcredit significantly influence women empowerment.

Published in Journal of Investment and Management (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21
Page(s) 171-183
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cost of Microcredit, Access to Microcredit, Women Empowerment

References
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[4] Alsop, R., M. Bertelsen, and J. Holland (2006). Empowerment in Practice from Analysis to Implementation. Washington, D. C.: World Bank.
[5] Howe, M. and S. Agwar (2001). RSVP to the male text. Madison NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson, University Press.
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[8] World Bank (1996). Women and Poverty. Beijing: Fourth World Conference.
[9] Adams, J. and G. Ivatury (2004). The market for microcredit foreign investment opportunities and challenges. CGAP.
[10] Webster, L. and P. Fidler (eds.) (1995). The Informal Sector and Micro-Finance Institutions in West Africa, The Industry and Energy and Division, The Private Sector Development Department, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
[11] Yunus, M. (2006). Grameen Bank at a Glance.
[12] Schuler, S. R. and S. M. Hashemi (1994). Credit Programs, Women Empowerment, and Contraceptive Use in Rural Bangladesh. Studies in Family Planning 25(2): 65-76.
[13] Hashemi, S. M., S. R. Schuler, and A. P. Riley (1996). Rural Credit Programs and Women Empowerment in Bangladesh. World Development 24(4): 635-653.
[14] Zaman, H. (2000). Assessing the Poverty and Vulnerability Impact of Micro-Credit in Bangladesh: A case study of BRAC, 2000. 12 June 2011.
[15] Kabeer, N. (2001). Reflections on the Measurement of Women’s Empowerment- Theory 33 and Practice, in: Discussing women empowerment-theory and practice. Stockholm: Novum Grafiska AB.
[16] Pitt, M., S. Khandker, O. Choudhury and D. Millimet (2000). Credit Programs for the Poor and the Health Status of Children in Rural Bangladesh. International Economic Review 44: 87–118.
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[20] Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology. Second. Edn. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Limited, publishers.
[21] Kabeer, N. (2002). Conflicts over Credit: Re-Evaluating the Empowerment Potential of Loans to Women in Rural Bangladesh. World Development 29(1): 63-84.
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[23] United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (2010). Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics. Geneva: UNRISD “Gender Inequalities at Home and in the Market.” Chapter 4: 5–33
[24] Argawal, B. (2010). Gender and Green Governance: The Political Economy of Women’s Presence Within and Beyond Community Forestry. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
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  • APA Style

    Irene J. Cheptumo. (2016). Microcredit and Women Empowerment in Kabartonjo Division: Baringo County, Kenya. Journal of Investment and Management, 5(6), 171-183. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21

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    ACS Style

    Irene J. Cheptumo. Microcredit and Women Empowerment in Kabartonjo Division: Baringo County, Kenya. J. Invest. Manag. 2016, 5(6), 171-183. doi: 10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21

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    AMA Style

    Irene J. Cheptumo. Microcredit and Women Empowerment in Kabartonjo Division: Baringo County, Kenya. J Invest Manag. 2016;5(6):171-183. doi: 10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21,
      author = {Irene J. Cheptumo},
      title = {Microcredit and Women Empowerment in Kabartonjo Division: Baringo County, Kenya},
      journal = {Journal of Investment and Management},
      volume = {5},
      number = {6},
      pages = {171-183},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jim.20160506.21},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jim.20160506.21},
      abstract = {Women empowerment is a theme which has attracted interest from various organizations, government agencies and individuals from all sectors of the Kenya national economy. The study sought to establish the role of microcredit institutions on women empowerment in terms of credit and cost of microcredit. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through field research using questionnaire and interview schedule, while secondary data was collected from performance records. The study employed explanatory research design. The population of the study comprised of 514 women and 3 microcredit institutions in Baringo County, Kenya. Random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The respondents comprised of members of the women groups and both managers and employees of the microcredit institutions. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics mainly measures of central tendencies, regression, analysis of variance and correlation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to ease analysis. The study found positive significant relationship between access to microcredit and women empowerment (β=0.771, p-value=0.000 and R square=0.694 or 69.4%). The study also found positive significant relationship between cost of credit and women empowerment (β=0.604, p-value=0.005 and R square=0.765 or 76.5%). The results suggest that microcredit significantly influence women empowerment.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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    AU  - Irene J. Cheptumo
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    T2  - Journal of Investment and Management
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    AB  - Women empowerment is a theme which has attracted interest from various organizations, government agencies and individuals from all sectors of the Kenya national economy. The study sought to establish the role of microcredit institutions on women empowerment in terms of credit and cost of microcredit. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through field research using questionnaire and interview schedule, while secondary data was collected from performance records. The study employed explanatory research design. The population of the study comprised of 514 women and 3 microcredit institutions in Baringo County, Kenya. Random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The respondents comprised of members of the women groups and both managers and employees of the microcredit institutions. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics mainly measures of central tendencies, regression, analysis of variance and correlation. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to ease analysis. The study found positive significant relationship between access to microcredit and women empowerment (β=0.771, p-value=0.000 and R square=0.694 or 69.4%). The study also found positive significant relationship between cost of credit and women empowerment (β=0.604, p-value=0.005 and R square=0.765 or 76.5%). The results suggest that microcredit significantly influence women empowerment.
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Author Information
  • Department of Accounting and Finance, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya

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