Effect of Digital Payment Services On Financial Inclusion Among Women-Owned Enterprises in Kajiado Central Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the effects of digital payment services on financial inclusion among women-owned enterprises in Kajiado Central Sub-County, Kenya. The study was grounded in rational choice theory and adopted a descriptive research design. A total of 138 questionnaires were distributed to respondents in selected state corporations in Nairobi, with 116 completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 84.1%, considered adequate for analysis. Findings showed that digital payment systems were widely accepted and perceived as beneficial. A positive relationship between digital payments and financial inclusion highlights

their role in improving transaction efficiency, expanding access to financial services, and integrating women- owned enterprises into the formal financial system. The study concluded that digital payments services play a

significant and complementary role in enhancing financial inclusion among women entrepreneurs. Their accessibility, efficiency, and user-oriented features make them powerful tools for economic empowerment. The study recommends that policymakers and financial service providers expand digital infrastructure, particularly agent networks and ATM coverage, to improve accessibility.