INFLUENCE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS ON HOUSEHOLD DECISION-MAKING IN NAROK NORTH SUB–COUNTY, NAROK COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The World Bank report indicated that women's empowerment was considered the expansion of the abilities of women to make strategic life choices in a context where the abilities were previously limited. Despite these developments, the role of women in decision-making in developing countries, particularly in pastoralist communities is a subject of scrutiny. Therefore, this study examined the influence of women empowerment programs on household decision-making in Narok North–Sub County. The specific objectives of the study were; to assess the effect of capacity-building programs, microfinance programs, and health care programs on household decision-making among women in Narok North Sub County. The study employed two theories; system and feminist theory. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The study targeted 59,996 households. A sample of 382 respondents was obtained. Cluster, simple random sampling and purposive methods were used to obtain participants in the study. For primary data, both questionnaires and interviews were used as the data collection instruments while document review was performed for secondary data. Quantitative data was analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS version 27). The findings were presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, percentages means and standard deviations. In addition, tables and charts were also used. The results indicated all the variables were significant. Microfinance Programs showed a significant effect on Women's Decision Making in households. Healthcare care programs showed a significant effect on Women's decision-making in households and capacity building also had a significant effect on Women Decision decision-making in households. The study recommended that; the government should offer more avenues for capacity building for women to be equipped with skills and knowledge that will support them to effectively participate in household decision-making.