The Effects Of Merry Go Round Strategy On Women Economic Empowerment In Kwale County

ABSTRACT

Even though millions of women all over the world contribute a lot to the national agricultural

output and family food security, several studies from Sub Saharan Africa reveal that rural

women are credit constrained than men of equivalent socio economic conditions. Therefore, rural

women, who form the majority of the rural population, are exposed to economic disability.

Kwale County in Kenya being part of the larger Sub Saharan Africa is not an exception. Kwale

District Development Plan 2008-2012 paper indicates that women in Kwale dominate the labor

force. They are however less empowered economically compared to their male counterparts.

Empowerment and improvement of women's socio-economic status is vital for achievement of

the necessary community development. This study investigated the extent by which Merry Go

Round as a strategy for savings and credit among the poor women in Kwale County in Kenya

empowers women in establishing their own income generating activities (IGA). The study

sought to investigate on the positive effects of Merry Go Round groups among the poor women

in Kwale County. The variables of study therefore were; sustaining their household needs,

increased participation in community development initiatives and achieving their basic social

security needs. The Objectives of the study were; to establish the extent by which Merry Go

Round has empowered women to establish their own income generating activities (IGA);

assessment of the success of Merry Go Round in sustaining household needs; Assessment of

increased participation in community development programs by the women in Kwale County

and the extent of improved social security needs such as food, education, healthcare, and shelter.

The area of study was Kwale County and the target population for the study was all the 116

active Merry Go Round groups in the County. The researcher used Descriptive research design

in this study. Cluster sampling, a method within the Probabilistic sampling techniques was used

to select a sample size of 12 women groups out of the target population in the three clustered

districts of Kwale County. The data was collected by use of questionnaires. Both frequency

distribution tables and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The expected

finding on this research was that women Merry Go Round groups; assists the poor women in

creating income generating activities, enables women in Kwale to meet their household needs,

encourage increased participation by women on community development projects, assists

women in attaining basic social security needs. The research findings were that Merry Go Round

has succeeded as a strategy in sustaining household needs for the women in Kwale County, it has

achieved in putting women in Kwale County on the forefront by motivating and encouraging

them to embrace increased participation in community development activities. It has enabled

Kwale County women meet their basic social security needs. In conclusion, the women Merry

Go Round is an effective strategy for economic empowerment of the poor women in Kwale

County. Therefore the researcher recommends that the Devolved Governments should give

incentives for women who have been in women Merry Go Round groups for a long period.

Commercial banks should also lend to members of women Merry Go Round groups against their

long serving membership in those registered groups. Also the Government should deploy

training ag~nts to ~J] the devolved Counties in Kenya to monitor, guide and train the women

members of Merry Go Round groups on how to handle their finances, how to market their output

and on business entrepreneurship.