Abstract:
Women are a powerful development force making important contributions to the economy as
entrepreneurs, workers and to the welfare of their families throughout Africa and in Kenya. However, inequalities in property ownership, discrimination in the labour market and other
business-related obstacles hinder women from competing with men. It is against this backdrop
that this study sought to examine women’s empowerment on economic development in Kenya. Empowerment programs provide a channel for access to education, control of resources and to
venture in productive activities which enable women to build a sustainable livelihood. The
key focus of this study is on increase in literacy levels and education standards, increased life
expectancy, increase in per capita income and improvement in levels of environmental
standards by women. Secondary data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods
whereby a total of fifteen (15) studies were reviewed that used different methods. Five (5)
studies were conducted in Kenya and ten (10) others from different parts of the world that
yielded varying results. Several themes emerged among them: education, access, empowerment, participation and control. This study revealed that women in development
activities are faced with political, social and economic impediments influenced by
socialization process for both sexes which determine the economic activities by women. For
instance, women are perceived as homemakers and therefore they are socialized to care for
their homes and children. This contributes to low self-esteem for women who are made to
believe that they are inferior to men and can therefore not stand up for themselves. Therefore, women economic empowerment should involve programs that seek to improve the living
standards of women through education, access to credit, employment and control over land
and property rights. Interventions should analyze the interface between law and customary
regimes to provide practical solutions to women weak rights to the property. This report will
be useful to the Government departments in their efforts to formulate and implement gender
policies, non-governmental organizations dealing with women’s empowerment, Micro finance
institutions in formulating their programs and the women in empowering themselves to work
towards achieving self-sufficiency and improved standards of living.
