MIRERC 054/2025: Understanding the Impact of Gender, Household Responsibilities and Spousal Involvement on Women’s Decisions to Purchase Insurance

Abstract

Executive summary
This study seeks to explore the factors influencing insurance uptake in Kenya, with a specific focus on
how gender, spousal dynamics and household responsibilities shape access to and engagement with
insurance products. Despite the critical role of insurance in building financial resilience, particularly
among vulnerable populations, uptake remains low across much of the country—especially in
low-income, rural, and informal-sector settings.
Women are disproportionately affected by low insurance coverage, often due to economic
constraints, limited financial literacy, lack of tailored products, and cultural norms that shape
decision-making power within households. These challenges are compounded by irregular income
streams and mistrust in financial institutions, which further restrict access to formal financial safety
nets. While innovations such as mobile-based microinsurance and public initiatives like the National
Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) have improved access, significant gaps persist—particularly for
women and those with caregiving responsibilities.

This study aims to explore how women make financial decisions at the household level and how
these decisions influence insurance uptake. Specifically, it will examine the impact of household
needs, spousal involvement, and gender dynamics on women’s willingness and ability to purchase
insurance.
The proposed research will be carried out in three counties—Mombasa, Isiolo, and Homa Bay—and
will employ a two-phase design. The first phase consists of a mixed-method household survey aimed
at understanding how women plan financially, prioritize spending, and perceive risk. The second
phase will involve a lab in the field experiment where participants will engage in budget allocation
exercises and insurance product simulations. These activities will help identify how household
responsibilities, spousal involvement, and behavioral factors influence insurance decisions.
Participants will be categorized by gender, marital status, and caregiving responsibilities to allow for
nuanced comparisons. By simulating real-life financial trade-offs and introducing relevant insurance
products under different framings (e.g., child-focused, health-focused), the study aims to test what
product features and messaging strategies most effectively drive uptake—particularly among
women.
Findings from this study will provide critical insights into the behavioral, social, and economic barriers
to insurance adoption in Kenya. The results will inform product design, policy recommendations, and
outreach strategies that support more inclusive financial protection—ultimately contributing to
Kenya’s goals of financial inclusion, gender equity, and improved household resilience.
Proposed activities include research design where we will be designing data collection instruments,training of field
officers,recruitment,data collection(household surveys and lab in the field experiment) analysis and report writing.