Women’s Financial Fiscal Policy and Its Influence on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The study examined how women’s financial fiscal policies have influenced women’s economic empowerment in Kakamega County, Kenya. It focused on evaluating the impact of County government initiatives since devolution, particularly in promoting women’s empowerment and reducing poverty. The study assessed affirmative action funds, community awareness of fiscal policies, women’s participation in policy formulation, adherence to County procedures in fund allocation, and the effectiveness of systems governing access and availability to County funds.

Methodology: The study, grounded in Empowerment and Financial Inclusion Theory, employed a descriptive survey design to investigate the influence of women’s financial fiscal policy on women’s economic empowerment in Kakamega County, Kenya. Data were collected from key officials, women group leaders, and finance officers using questionnaires and interviews. A sample of 910 respondents was selected through stratified, purposive, and systematic sampling methods. The instruments were validated for content and construct validity, and reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.7. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses, while qualitative data underwent thematic content analysis. Ethical principles such as confidentiality and voluntary participation were upheld.

Findings: The study recorded a high response rate and found a strong, statistically significant positive relationship between financial fiscal policy and women’s economic empowerment (r = 0.484, p < 0.001). This indicates that women’s engagement with or awareness of financial policy processes enhances their empowerment, leading to the rejection of the null hypotheses. However, the study identified a major gap in women’s participation in institutional financial decision-making. It recommended that finance officers and women’s groups actively apply financial fiscal policy strategies to improve women’s economic and social well-being. The study also called for full implementation of fiscal policy procedures, especially in rural women’s empowerment programs, and encouraged collaboration with the private sector to broaden financial opportunities for both women’s groups and individuals.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study extends Financial Inclusion and Empowerment theories by shifting focus from traditional loan-based models to grant-based and individualized financial support as more effective tools for promoting women’s agency, autonomy, and sustainable empowerment. It links financial fiscal policy directly to empowerment outcomes rather than mere credit access. The study emphasizes that fiscal policy alone cannot achieve empowerment without strong frameworks for allocation, accessibility, and financial literacy to ensure effective fund utilization. It highlights the need to integrate financial fiscal policy within Public Financial Management (PFM) and Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) systems, embedding financial indicators to track fund use and empowerment impact. Empirical evidence confirmed a significant positive relationship between financial fiscal policy and women’s economic empowerment in Kakamega County. The study recommends expanding affirmative action funds, increasing fiscal outreach, and offering targeted financial training for rural women, particularly widows and female-headed households, to close existing empowerment gaps.