AFRICAN WOMEN’S JOURNEY TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: AN OVERVIEW OF ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, KENYA PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Women constitute at least 50% of the world population and have been making substantial contribution to socio-economic development. Unfortunately, their contribution largely remains unrecognized and unnoticed in most developing and least developed countries. Empowering women has become the key element in the development of an economy. Despite their potential, women-owned businesses in Kenya are less likely to grow, are smaller, and are twice as likely to be operating from home as male-owned businesses. Women-owned MSMEs report earning only 57% of income that male business owners earn. Thus, there is need to encourage entrepreneurship in women empowerment in efforts to eradicate unemployment and poverty in Africa continent.

This study looked at the African women’s journey towards gender equality and social transformation; an overview role of entrepreneurship on women empowerment, a Kenyan perspective. Descriptive surveys were used as the study design. The study generated qualitative and quantitative results. Qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis while descriptive figures were used for quantitative analysis. From the results, the study concluded that women entrepreneurs should continue to find new ways to distinguish their companies from rivals to reduce the negative effect of intense competition on their businesses. The study recommended that the County governments should pay closer attention to women entrepreneurs in the extension of appropriate support services such as microcredits and training, based on the goal of skill-based training.