Factors affecting participation among women refugees living with disabilities in income generating activities: A case of Kakuma Camp in Turkana County, Kenya

Participation of Refugee Women Living with Disabilities in Income Generating Activities was curtailed by exclusion and limited opportunities which sustained dependence to development organizations. The study therefore assessed the factors affecting participation of women with disabilities in Income Generating Activities in Kakuma Camp. Social Model of disability explained how enablers or barriers were sustained by society. Descriptive survey design was used with mixed methods approach for data collection. The target population were women with physical, intellectual, sensory and mental mild impairments.788 women living with disabilities of the ages between 15- 65 years were the sample frame. 260 women were generated statistically and randomly selected using multi stage sampling technique, while key informants were selected purposively. Household questionnaires and key informant interview schedules were used. The study found out that the factors affecting participation of the women living with disabilities in income generating activities included economic status , gender , nationality, financial literacy skills, communal relations, market access and care giver availability. There is a significant association between the type of disability and the location and distance of participation. The study recommended the designing of disability programmes as stand-alone to make them visible and provision of relevant and timely disability assistive devices.