Gender Representation and Decision-Making Process in Deposit Taking SACCOs in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Gender Representation and Decision-Making Process in Deposit Taking SACCOs in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Sarah Chelimo – Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies, Kisii University.
Dr. Peter Gutwa Oino – Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies, Kisii University.
Dr. Edmond Were – Department of Political Science and Peace Studies, Kisii University
Dr. Lumayo Mildred – Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies, Kisii University.

Email: oinogutwae@gmail.com

Abstract: The proposition of this paper is that gender representation is the gist for meaningful development in a country. In this paper we analyzed the effect of gender representation on decision making process in deposit taking Saccos in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. We argue that despite gender representation being an important aspect in the growth of Saccos, it has been given a low profile in the management of Saccos, thus impacting negatively their growth and achievement. The study used cross-sectional research design and targeted 11 managers and 867 delegates. A sample size of 266 delegates and 11 managers was used. Simple random sampling was used to select delegates, while purposive sampling was used to select the managers. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative data was analyzed by SPSS (version 25) and the findings were presented using frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed descriptively and presented in narrations and quotations. The study found that there was a significant positive correlation between gender representation and decision-making in deposit taking Saccos ((r = .387; p = .000). It was concluded that the number of women in decision making organs in deposit taking Saccos leads to improved decision-making process and therefore there is need for improving the number of women in decision making organs in deposit-taking Saccos since the presence of women in Sacco boards was associated with efficiency in decision-making process.