IntroductionICT enhances product development, improves market infrastructures, helps implementation of effective techniques in controlling the business risks and also the financial intermediaries can reach geographically distant and diversified markets (Tiwar 2012). Banks use several technologies for effective service delivery. ATM is one of the common technologies used by banks for timely services delivery (Muniu, 2015). It is an e-banking technology which usually brings enormous benefits, including timely announcement, convenient money withdrawal and deposit. Other ATM benefits are time saving, more service for customers, greater efficiency and increased bank's reputation (Yang., 2018). In essence, ATM helps out build new markets and fuel the economy.Also, ATM heightens efficacy in banking operations and reduces significantly costs, improvement of services quality, and increase the values and faith to bank customers (Kamel 2005). Shekhar (2020) identifies ATMs banking as one of the channels for banking services delivery. Furthermore, the services offered through ATM include cash withdrawal, cash deposits, and balance enquiry, providing mini statement, deposit cheques, and fund transfers. In addition to that, customers may also perform activities such as paying utility bills, recharging mobile services, cheque book requests status of a cheque deposited for collection, request for cheque book or statement of account, record stop payments, and Information on bank products.It is safe to demonstrate that ATM adoption rate has been influenced by age, background, education (Lubua 2012), as an example bank customer choose ATM to avoid carrying excessive money when going to deposit and being at risks of robberies (Kennedy & Ndungu 2013). However, technological advancements may generate enormous problems, such as payments interoperability between different network providers (Kijang 2018), inadequate ATM, inappropriate ICT policies and poor internet connection (IFC 2017) may prohibit or cause delay in adoption of the ATM technology, for example, the first official Tanzanian National ICT Policy was adopted in 2003 but by 2009/2010 the strategic plan for the public sector was still only a draft (Lubua 2012).

The evolution of microfinance institutions in Kenya is seen as a catalyst for promoting women empowerment. One of the services provided by microfinance institutions is the micro insurance. Micro insurance refers to low premium, low coverage insurance services provided to low income clients excluded from commercial insurance schemes. In Kenya, already some insurance and non insurance institutions have welcomed micro insurance by introducing products such as Afya Bora by CIC and Salama Sure by UAP with Faulu Kenya offering Faulu Afya. Most of these products focus on primary risks such as Livestock and Crop , Health , Funeral and Life insurance. Scarce studies have devoted to the topic as many have relied to micro credit as overall microfinance institutions services here in Kenya. Hence the study sought to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions on women empowerment in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. The study was guided by an objective namely to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. This study adopted the descriptive research. A sample of 127 respondents were selected from a population of 293 using simple random technique. The study adopted the use of a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument that was constructed on a five point Likert scale. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and tools such as frequencies, percentages and Chi Square test of good fit were used. Inferential statistical analysis was done by use of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient to establish the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Analyzed data was presented inform of statistical tables. Results show that micro insurance is statistically insignificant and negatively affect women empowerment. This study concludes that penetration of micro insurance services should be able to reach women. Some of the recommendations made included; the need to a further study to distinctively identify the effect of micro insurance by MFIs in group lending on women empowerment, further understanding the effects of new areas of microfinance such as that of micro-insurance services to help design better products, gain a competitive edge and stimulate the market in the long term for sustainable development.

Abstract:This study sought to establish the effect of economic determinants on the performance of dairy cooperative societies in Kericho County. Specifically, the study was to determine the performance trends of the societies and the extent to which economic determinants affect performance.

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