Performance of Women Enterprise Fund on Women Economic Empowerment; A Survey of North Imenti Constituency

Abstract

ABSTRACT Women enterprise fund was meant to empower women economically by providing them with money to start some income generating activities or expand their already existing entrepreneur activities. A representative sample was selected from the population of 1540 women who are in registered women groups in Imenti North constituency. A sample size of 154 women was used in the study by use of Multi -stage sampling method. The study was a survey and Data was collected by use of questionnaires which contained both structured and unstructured questions. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and findings presented in tables, graphs and charts. There were three hypotheses to be tested and the first one was there is no significant difference in average monthly income between the women who had WEF and those who no WEF. The second hypotheses was there is no significant difference in average assets between women who had WEF and those who had no WEF and the final Hypotheses was that there was no significant difference in average monthly savings between women who had WEF and those who had no WEF .All this hypotheses were tested using T -test where by the first two hypotheses were rejected while the last one was accepted. The results indicated that Women Enterprise Fund has empowered women in terms of Assets Acquisition, and increased income but no significant difference was found in terms of savings among both groups of women. It is recommended that more women who never applied for WEF should be encouraged to Acquire the loan either though the constituency Women Enterprise Fund or through the selected Financial Intermediaries like the Kenya Women Finance Trust. In order for this to accomplished more awareness campaign is required about the WEF. Also it is recommended that there is need to educate the women on importance of setting some money aside as savings for future emergencies.