Factors Affecting Performance of Women Investment Groups: A Survey of Gucha Sub County, Kisii County

Abstract

The challenge for women investment groups has been the ability to cohesively and successfully work together in order to achieve their goals and objectives. If women investment groups disintegrate, then their original and main purpose for their formation will not be achieved. This means that the poverty circle will continue and the women will have challenges in meeting their household needs. The performance of women investment groups largely depend on a number of practices which are entrenched within the group setup. This was a research study which sought to establish the factors that affect the performance of women investment groups in Gucha Sub County. The study was aimed at finding out the extent to which training affects the performance of women investment groups, to access the extent to which group meeting affect the performance of women investment groups, to determine the extent to which record keeping affects the performance of women investment groups and finally to establish how the level of savings and borrowings affect the performance of women investment groups in Gucha Sub County. The researcher used the survey research design as it was appropriate in collecting original data from a representative hence helping to draw correct conclusion. The study population was the women investment groups in Gucha Sub County that was obtained from the seven divisions in Gucha Sub County. The sample size was selected using stratified sampling techniques then the use of simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. The use of this technique was aimed at allowing all elements of the population equal chances of inclusion. The sample size of 52 women investment groups was selected from the target population of 354 women investment groups in Gucha Sub County. The Data was systematically organized and the results were presented using frequency distribution tables, percentages, mean and cross tabulation. The study found out that most women investment groups in Gucha Sub County have fully implemented the practices of proper group training, attending regular group meetings, having regular savings and borrowing of loans the functions which needs to be improved in all women investment groups so that they can play a better role of increasing their performance thus raising their living standards. The government through the ministry of gender and social services should introduce programs where officials and members of women investment groups are required to hold special sessions, guided annual reviews and meetings to help the groups create better procedures of organizing group meetings, group records and increasing savings.