Influence of Socio-economic Factors on Sustainability of Women Empowerment Groups in Pastoralist Communities in Kenya: a Case of Tiaty Sub-county, Baringo County

Abstract

Sustainability of women empowerment projects in the pastoralist communities is a significant element of societal development. It is true that women play key roles in providing the family with daily basic needs. However, it is through the establishment of institutions such as women groups that women and other agencies including the government can propagate the empowerment initiative. This study measured the effect of social economic factors on sustainability of women empowerment projects in the pastoralist communities in Kenya. The study focused on the influence of income generating activities, social capital, cultural orientation and education level on how they impact sustainability of women empowerment groups among pastoralist communities in Kenya and was carried out among women groups in Tiaty Sub County; Baringo County. Using descriptive research design sample of 384 was obtained from 3568 women in 182 registered women. In addition, five key informants including; area chiefs, representatives of financial institutions, and the Tiaty sub-county Social Services department were interviewed. Key Informant Interview (KII) guides and structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data and qualitative data respectively. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was organized and analyzed by themes. Using Pearson correlation coefficient, the findings established a direct and positive relationship between sustainability of women empowerment groups and independent variables; Income generating activities at R=0.934, Social capital at R=0.835, Cultural orientation at R= 0.781 and Education levels at R=0.92. Further inference shows the proportionate contribution of independent variables factors towards sustainability of women empowerment groups at 87.23% (0.9342) from Income generating activities, 84.64% (0.922) from Education level, 69.72%(0.8352) from Social capital and 60.99%(0.7812) Cultural orientation from highest to lowest percentage. Additionally the composite mean and standard deviation for income generating activities, education level, social capital and cultural orientation was M=3.92;SD=1.058, M=3.52;SD=1.277, M=3.87;SD 0.859, M=2.81;SD=1.164 respectively. This study observed that the income generating activities showed the highest Pearson correlation coefficient towards sustaining women empowerment groups. This study recommends; training women on income generating activities to aid in their empowerment and sustainability of groups, enacting proper legislation to accord equal opportunities to pastoralist women, sustaining programs to challenge male dominance in pastoralist and training women leaders on skills to ensure their groups are well run and managed.