CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN-OWNED ENTERPRISES ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF HOUSEHOLDS IN NYAMIRA SOUTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Women owned enterprises are vehicles and catalysts for sustainable development in rural communities globally. Unlike other businesses, women-owned enterprises utilize innovation and opportunities to generate, not only profits, but also solutions to socio-economic problems, facing households and the community as a whole. Sustainability pathways of women owned enterprises appear restricted in the implementation of their enterprises, due to the widespread of illiteracy, limited financial access and sustainability and lack of financial resources. The main objective of this study is to examine the contribution of women-owned enterprises on the socio-economic wellbeing of households in Nyamira South Sub-County, Kenya. Specifically, the study seeks; to examine the nature of women owned enterprises in Nyamira South Sub-County; assess financial access, utilization and women-owned enterprises on household wellbeing in Nyamira South Sub-County; analyse the gendered barriers to the sustainability of women-owned enterprises in Nyamira South Sub-County; evaluate the influence of capacity building interventions on women-owned enterprises for household wellbeing in Nyamira South Sub-County. The study adopted a mixed method research design and was guided by the Social entrepreneurship theory. The study population included 280 registered social entrepreneurs in Nyamira South Sub-County. Glenn’s table was used in determining sample size of 280 women entrepreneurs; in which case, the researcher employed census survey. Purposive sampling techniques were used to sample 9 key informants, 5 Focus Group Discussions and 5 group leaders for the study. Data was collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, Interview guides and Non-participant observations. Version 20 of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences and computer software were used to facilitate the quantitative data organization and analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using content analysis and the results were presented using graphs, tables, percentages and pie charts. Qualitative data was analysed in verbatim quatations from the key informants’ interviews and Focused Group Discussions. The tools were reviewed to ensure all the constracts and items in them were valid; pilot study was conducted by the researcher to ensure reliability. Findings from the study indicated that most of the respondents who operated in these enterprises worked on part-time basis at (74.3%), and most of their time were concentrated on household responsibilities with little or no strength in social networks. It was also revealed that most of the women operate small and medium size enterprises. Findings from the study also show that 84% of the respondents had their household socio-economic wellbeing improved, since they started involving themselves in the enterprises. It was revealed that 83.2% utilized funds from the enterprise for paying households bills. The study concludes that there is a gap in saving and accessing funds for sustainable enterprises and that the majority of the respondents used their personal savings from the chama to set up the enterprise. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that the government and financial institutions need to provide women entrepreneurs with access to financial resources from the bank so as to improve the socio-economic status of their household; the government and financial institutions need to provide women with networking links that can provide awareness on the management of finances enterprises. Government and financial institutions need to provide equal financial access to all and simplify lending process. Finally, learning and financial institution need to provde free of charge trainings on banking processes, financial management skills, market linkages and in training human resource management. This can also enable women entrepreneurs in to improve the size of their enterprises.