Project Year
2011
Region(s)
East Africa
Country(ies)
Kenya
Project Description
The primary goal of this research study is to investigate the use and impact of mobile money services (e.g. MPESA and Zap) as a tool for poverty reduction in Eastern Kenya. With support from NEPAD, Vinya wa Aka Group (VWAG) – an urban-based women’s group in Nairobi – has trained 21 women’s groups in the rural parts of Eastern Kenya on issues of investment, savings, money services and management. As part of that training, each group outlined a strategy for resource mobilization, savings and investment with the aim of reducing poverty within their families and communities. This study will build on that training and investigate each group’s level of use and, if any, the impact of the mobile money services.
Researcher(s)
Ndunge Kiiti, Jane Mutinda, Philomena Muiruri
About the Researcher(s)
Ndunge Kiiti has a PhD in Communication from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. with concentration
in International Health Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore,
MD; a Master of Arts degree in Development Communication from Wheaton College, U.S.
through Daystar University, Nairobi; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration from Houghton College, U.S.
Jane Wanza Mutinda has a PhD in Environment and Community Development from Kenyatta University, Nairobi,
Kenya; a Master’s in Education and Environmental Studies from Kenyatta University,
Nairobi, Kenya; and a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Nairobi, Kenya
(Honors).
Philomena W. Muiruri has a PhD from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; a Master of Arts degree from
the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of Nairobi, Kenya.