Thesis:

Dynamics of Kenya-Somalia cross border informal trade and its influence on women empowerment in Wajir east sub-county

Despite the critical role that cross-border informal trade plays in the livelihoods of women in border regions, women traders continue to face significant challenges that undermine their full empowerment. In regions like Wajir East Sub-County, where many women engage in informal trade across the Kenya-Somalia border, the benefits of this trade are often limited by a range of socio-economic barriers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of KenyaSomalia cross-border informal trade and its influence on the empowerment of women in Wajir East Sub-County. The study objectives were: To explore the challenges of women’s participation in cross-border informal trade in Wajir East Sub-County; To examine the influence of cross-border informal trade on the income levels of women in Wajir East Sub-County; To examine the influence of cross-border informal trade on the participation in community decision-making processes among women in Wajir East Sub-County; and To assess the influence of cross-border informal trade on participation in politics processes among women in Wajir East Sub-County. This research was grounded Feminist Theory and Social Capital Theory. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach and a descriptive survey design. The target population consisted of women engaged in cross-border informal trade between Kenya and Somalia, estimated at 450 individuals within Wajir East Sub-County. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants such as directors in the state department of trade at border and NGO representatives in social welfare empowerment. Stratified random sampling was employed to select women traders based on age and experience in cross-border trade. The sample size was determined using Yamane’s formula giving a total of 222. The study utilized both questionnaires for women traders and key informant interviews for specific experts to collect primary data. The research instruments was piloted with a small subset. Piloting was conducted in the neighboring Wajir central subcounty with a sample of 10% (n=22) of the actual study sample. Expert reviews and feedback from the pilot test was incorporated to improve content validity. To ensure reliability, the research instruments was tested for internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. Quantitative data from the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive including frequencies and percentages. Regression analysis was used to explore relationships between variables. Qualitative data from interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key findings. The study reveals that cross-border informal trade significantly impacts women's empowerment in Wajir East Sub-County, explaining 65% of empowerment variance. Challenges include limited access to capital, insecurity, and harassment. Trade boosts empowerment through increased income, but financial inclusion gaps need to be addressed. Social networking is enhanced through leadership skills and diverse perspectives, but policy inclusivity lags. Educationally, informal learning and advocacy are beneficial, but uneven access requires structured training. The study recommends that NGOs and local development organizations establish community-based microfinance programs to address the pervasive challenge of limited access to capital. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of how dynamics of Kenya Somalia cross border informal trade influence women empowerment in Wajir east sub-county.