Dynamics of Women’s Empowerment on Economic Development in Kenya

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.