ISSN 2456-0235

International Journal of Modern Science and Technology

INDEXED IN 

International Journal of Modern Science and Technology, 1(5), 2016, Pages 173-177. 


Influence of Women’s Access to Credit on their Decision-Making Roles in the Community among the Njemps in Baringo County – Kenya

​Gladys Kabutiei1, Harriet Kidombo1, N. B. Okelo2,*
1 School of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
2 School of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 210-40601, Bondo-Kenya.

Abstract
Despite recent developments with respect to gender issues acknowledging that empowerment of women will improve their status generally and enable them to actively and effectively participate in key decision making processes at all levels of human development, women are frequently neglected in economic, trade and development policies and planning because of socio-historical patterns in regard to gender-based inequalities and division of household roles. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of women’s empowerment on their decision making roles among the Njemps in Baringo County – Kenya. The study was guided by four objectives: To determine the influence women’s access to credit, on their decision-making roles in the community. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population for the study constituted all women from the 4,219 households in 6 administrative Locations of Baringo District. The sample size for the study was 351 households at a confidence level of 95% and margin of error 5.0%. Stratified sampling based on the administrative Locations in the area of the study was used to obtain a representative sample of the target population and ensure a balance of information gathered. The study established that majority of the women (64%) had at least taken a loan at some point. None of the respondents’ spouse made a unilateral decision on the amount of loan to be taken. Significant positive relationships between women’s access to credit and reproductive decision-making roles (r=0.13, at a 95% level of significance.

​​Keywords: ​Credit; Decision-making Roles; Women; Njemps; Community. 

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