(Re) viewing the government’s role in supporting the growth of marginalised women’s businesses: A case study of Minyore Business women at the Nakuru Rubbish Dump in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of the study was to interrogate factors behind the marginalized Minyore women’s art work businesses remaining mere survival and not profitable. This is despite their products selling on international markets. Further to find ways to improve these women’s position in law and human rights, The overarching women’s law methodology enabled me to understand the women’s lived realities and establish the gaps in law. Human rights was used to assess government’s support for the women, the Capabilities Approach enabled me to assess women’s capabilities and the real available opportunities for them to function humanly. The research based activism was used to research the women’s problems in real situations and solve their real problems and lastly grounded theory was used to triangulate data. The data collection tools used entailed individual interviews, focused group discussion and observation. Findings indicated the failure by the Nakuru County Government to initiate affirmative action programs as envisaged by Article 56 of the constitution to support and realize marginalized people’s rights including the rights of the Minyore business women within Nakuru County in Kenya. In conclusion, it is the responsibility of the county government of Nakuru to embrace affirmative action programs in relevant areas in order to support marginalized people and especially the marginalized Minyore business women in the county. This will enable their businesses to grow from mere survival to profitable ventures, bearing in mind that women arekey to the economic development of the nation as provided by the country’s vision 2030