Uptake and Utilisation of the Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme (C-WES) Fund among Women Beneficiaries in Nyamira County- Kenya

Abstract

Globally, women's economic empowerment has been identified as a prerequisite to enhancing their economic development participation. It accelerates economic development and improves women's economic independence by creating job opportunities. Additionally, their social, educational and health standards both at the individual and family level improve. The government of Kenya introduced the women Enterprise Fund to empower women economically through the provision of credit and business support services. However, Women Enterprise Fund has experienced challenges in its extension of services. One of the major challenges is the high default rate among the fund beneficiaries accessing loans through Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme. The high default rate has impacted heavily on the sustainability of the fund. Therefore, this study sought to assess determinants of uptake and utilisation of loan Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme fund among women in Nyamira County. The objectives of the study were: To establish factors that determine the uptake of C-WES funds, examine determinants in the utilisation of C-WES funds, examine challenges related to the uptake and utilisation of C-WES funds and suggest gender-responsive strategies that would ensure effective utilisation of C-WES and improved repayment performance. The liberal feminist and joint liability theories guided the study. Naisurma's (2000) model was used to determine a sample size of 95 respondents who were further selected by systematic random sampling. Further, data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules; and was analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, and presented in the form of graphs, charts, and tables. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Version 17.0). Findings from the study revealed that women were still interested in group loans. However, respondents identified loan size, lack of supervision, group conflicts as contributing factors to the uptake and utilisation of loan repayment. Loan diversion was also established among borrowers.