Self-Help Group Approach And Women’S Political Empowerment In Yatta Sub-County, Eastern Kenya

Abstract

This study, conducted with 150 self-help groups (SHGs) in Yatta sub-county, assessed the self-help group method to women‟s political empowerment and participation in the sub-county. The basic research question was on the strategies that SHGs use to empower women politically in this sub-county. The study was guided by the empowerment theory, and adopted a cross-sectional research design. Data were collected using key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The main findings established that SHGs employ different strategies to enhance political awareness and participation of its members. The groups use rotational leadership and needs-based trainings as major strategies for enhancing political participation by their members. The study also established that SHGs have set criteria for selecting their leaders and provide opportunities for members to network with personalities that can impart essential skills on the women. Finally, the study findings suggest that most of the members had an idea of what political empowerment is and were involved in political activities in the community. The study, therefore, concludes that SHGs are beneficial to women and that more women should be encouraged to join SHGs. The study further concludes that the SHGs are agents of change as the women were noted to have not only economic benefits but as well social and psychological benefits. Based on the findings, the study recommends that more women should be encouraged to not only become part of the SHGs but also to be active members of the SHGs if they are to reap maximum benefit.