Effects of Microcredit Initiatives on Women Empowerment: A Case of Catholic Women Association in Laikipia County, Kenya

Peterson Thumi Kabugi – Laikipia University, Kenya
James Karori Kariuki – Egerton University, Kenya
Corresponding Author: rkabugi09@gmail.com

Received August 1, 2020; Revised August 26; Accepted August 28, 2020

Abstract: Poverty and dependency rate have remained high in developing nations, despite the governments promoting gender. The study sought to investigate the effect of microcredit initiatives on women empowerment, a case of Catholic Women Association in Laikipia county, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. A sample size of 219 subjects was obtained using stratified random sampling and simple random sampling procedures. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The study found that the majority (72.6%) of the study participants felt that most women relied on women groups’ savings entitled table banking as a small fund source. A vast majority (96.4%) of the study participants confirmed that the poor have been able to access credit through women saving groups. 11.2% of the variance in the women empowerment in Laikipia County was explained by the set predictor (CWA Microcredit initiatives) variable. There was a statistically significant association between CWA Microcredit initiatives and women empowerment in Laikipia County, F (1, 197) = 6.221, p =0.001. The study concluded that access to Microcredit through women saving groups promotes growth and development of women’s income generation activities. The study recommends that there is need for all stakeholders, including religious organizations, non-governmental organizations and private entities to liaise with the government of Kenya in the efforts to attain sustainable development goal 1 (to end poverty in all its forms everywhere) through the promotion of Microcredit programs in rural and urban non-formal settlements.