For Mariam Guyo, a resident of Isiolo County in Northern Kenya, owning a registered SIM card offers more than just convenience – it’s her route to financial independence, shielded from the controlling eyes of her husband.
The penetration of mobile money services like M-PESA and Airtel Money in Northern Kenya represents a quiet revolution for indigenous women by providing a way out of years of financial oppression.
In Northern Kenya, where women traditionally lack property ownership and face strict religious constraints, mobile money platforms have quietly empowered them. By bypassing the need for collateral or spousal approval, mobile money services are allowing these women to save, borrow, and manage their finances discreetly and independently in their villages.
“In the past, having money of my own was nearly impossible. If I kept it at home, my husband would take it. But now, with a mobile wallet, I can save securely and withdraw anytime I need,” said Mariam, 29.
Bypassing religious and cultural financial barriers
In indigenous communities, women do not own production assets such as land, animals, or machinery, which makes it hard to access finance from banks.
Mobile money platforms bypass a bank’s requirements to open a bank account such as tax PIN certificates, ID, and proof of residency. This low-barrier entry enables women to save money and take out microloans directly through their mobile wallets, eliminating the need for conventional bank loans.
In fact, opening a bank account in most cases for these rural women would prove impossible, as they would need permission from their spouses to open one or even to visit the nearest town to access such services.
“In our community, women must seek permission from their husbands to open a bank account or go to town. If I violate this, I will be in trouble,” Mirriam explained.
Religious factors leading to financial exclusion for women
The majority of indigenous women in Northern Kenya are part of Muslim communities where Islamic laws (Sharia) discourage loans with interest, further restricting their access to traditional loans.
“Due to Sharia law, women who take loans from banks do it in secrecy because if found out, they are punished by their spouses. It becomes very hard to empower them,” commented Nancy Muggi of the Kenya Small Business Development Centres.
Challenges and risks faced by women in pursuing financial autonomy
Miriam reveals that, in 2022, after a quarrel with her husband, she paid the ultimate price as he burnt her shop down as a form of retaliation.
“He had accused me of being hardheaded because I had a small shop; he burnt it down. I had a loan I had taken from a local bank, and it was impossible to repay,” she explained.
Luckily for her, the loan was repaid from her contribution to her village women’s group, but she says it very much set her back.
“At the time I was pregnant with my sixth child, my shop and little savings were gone, and I was in so much trouble for taking a loan from a non-Sharia bank. I was thrown out of my home,” she added.
