Effects of Microfinance on Socio -Economic Status on Women Loanee Households in Limuru Constituency , Kiambu County-Kenya

Abstract

Globally, at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $1.0 per day accounting for 4.8 billion people. This is despite many studies carried out by various researchers on the effects of Microfinance on Socio-Economic Status on households. However despite this effort by Microfinance institutions on empowerment of women entrepreneurs in rural setting on this study remains largely unexplored in Kenya. This study aimed to close the gap by establishing the effects of microfinance on social economic status of women loanees in Limuru Constituency of Kiambu County in Kenya. The study adopted a concept of equilibrium of poverty theory by Chambers (1983) Chambers assumed that, gains made from the efforts of the poor people to disentangle themselves from shackles of poverty are quickly lost as a result of their vulnerable conditions. For the methodology the Study adopted mixed method research methodology with the population consisting all women under an MFI’s financial support in Limuru Constituency Kiambu County of Kenya. The sample of the study consisted of 91 women who have accessed financial support from MFIs in Limuru Constituency who were selected using purposive sampling technique. The target population for this study consisted of all women who have received microcredit from Pamoja Women Development Group (PAWDEP), who were 2,000 women (PAWDEP Records, 2018). Structured questionnaires comprising of closed and ended questions were used to collect data from the selected respondents. For Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews, Purposive Sampling Technique was used. The primary data was gathered using structured questionnaires and interview. The collected data was analyzed through the help of Statistical Package for social Sciences (SPSS Version 22) which was of great importance in generating the descriptive statistics and also to generate trends results. The study provides recommendations that clear financial management strategies should be put in place to address key critical financial difficulties facing women. The Study also recommends that no interest should be charged on the loan and payment should commence after results have been realized since women groups who had participated in microfinance, the study found that 70% of the women who took the loan had not benefitted.