Assessing Women’s Economic Status and Implications of Selected Cultural Practices on Their Economic Empowerment in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kenya

This study examines the impact of cultural practices on women’s economic empowerment in Kajiado West sub-county, Kenya, a region characterised by deeply rooted patriarchal traditions. Despite national and international commitments to gender equality, women in rural Maasai communities remain constrained by practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage, polygamy, and gender-based violence. Using a descriptive analytical approach, data were collected through questionnaires and interviews from 90 respondents and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicate that cultural norms significantly hinder women’s access to education, financial resources, decision-making authority, and asset ownership. Only 31.1% of women reported earning income, while 64.4% had no income at all. Access to credit and banking services was limited for 70.0% and 82.2% of respondents, respectively. Asset ownership remains male-dominated, with women largely excluded from land and livestock ownership. FGM was reported to negatively affect school performance by 64.5% of respondents, and 52.2% cited related health issues. Early marriage was identified by 89.9% as a primary cause of school dropout, further restricting women's economic potential. The study concludes that cultural practices deeply influence key indicators of economic empowerment and calls for culturally sensitive policy interventions targeting legal reforms, education, health access, and gender norms to promote meaningful and sustainable empowerment for women in pastoral communities.