Impact of resource mobilization on sustaining informal women groups in Tot division, Marakwet district, Rift valley province Kenya

Ochieng FO*, Kwonyike JK, Tubey R and Yano KL

Moi University Eldoret – School of Human Resource Development, Kenya

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: fredrickochiengo@yahoo.com

Accepted 16 October, 2012

The purpose of the study was to investigate the resource mobilization among informal women groups (Cheseker, Kaburet and Kapyemit) in Tot Division, Marakwet District Rift valley province. The study was necessitated by the fact that there are very few, if not lack of evidence to explain how resource mobilization in rural areas had affected women groups. Sixty eight individual in 3 sampled women groups were respondents. They included 6 leaders and sixty two members of the group. Results of data from questionnaires, interviews, content analysis and observation schedule analyzed using frequency distribution and percentage showed that the government policy on support for the women groups should focus on the rural women groups. Though a lot have been said by the government, we are yet to see it work, the government and its partners should facilitate training and skill development courses for the women groups’ leaders and members to increase their productivity, the government should come up with a strategy to initiate and influence women groups in the disbursement of education bursary funds for the needy, particularly to benefit girls, micro-finance institutions should come up with a scheme that is borrower-friendly to benefit women groups in rural areas and leaders of women groups should be trained to acquire skills on record keeping and group affairs management. From the findings it was concluded that for the last twelve years, the informal women groups have not been able to raise enough funds for their projects, lacked networking ability, proper education and male tend to have a lot of control in women activities. It was recommended that more money generating activities should be thought of rather than only relying on farms, loans and fund raising. Education also needs to be given a lot of emphasis since illiteracy also played a role in poor management and innovation of new ideas to assist raise funds. Formal women groups should come up with a policy to support women especially in remote areas. As a long term strategy, the government should involve women groups in the disbursement of education bursary funds for the needy, particularly to benefit girls.

Keywords: Resource mobilization, women groups and empowerment