Government Initiatives and the Empowerment of Young Women in Self-Help Groups in Kakamega County, Kenya

Government enterprise funds and affirmative procurement programmes offer opportunities to strengthen young women’s livelihoods through self-help groups. Their contribution depends, however, on whether eligible women can access services and use the resulting resources. This study examined the influence of national and county government initiatives on young women’s empowerment in youth and women self-help groups in Kakamega County, Kenya. A descriptive design combined questionnaires administered to 470 young women aged 18–35 years with 22 focus group discussions and nine key informant interviews. Sampling covered 92 groups, 47 wards and all 12 sub-counties. Fieldwork was conducted in May 2019, following a pilot involving 12 young women. Quantitative data were analysed using frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were organised thematically. Gender and Development, African feminist perspectives and Longwe’s Women’s Empowerment Framework guided interpretation. Among 305 tabulated government-opportunity responses, the Women Enterprise Fund accounted for 27.2%, Uwezo Fund for 22.3%, Youth Enterprise Development Fund for 18.4% and government procurement opportunities for 3.0%. Financial access was the most frequently reported positive group benefit, but 33.1% of 317 group-benefit responses indicated no benefit. Interviews identified support through training, registration, agricultural services and market facilitation, alongside barriers arising from preferences for established enterprises and married, settled women. Government initiatives provided useful resources but reached young women unevenly. Transparent eligibility decisions, coordinated outreach, practical procurement support and monitoring of individual benefits are recommended. The findings highlight the need to connect financial and organisational assistance with young women’s participation and control over resources.