A Systematic Review of Mobile Banking and Financial Inclusion in Rural Kenya, 2010–2025: An African Perspective

This systematic literature review synthesises academic research from 2010 to 2023 to critically analyse the role of mobile banking in advancing financial inclusion for women in rural Kenya. It addresses the persistent gender gap in financial access despite the proliferation of mobile money services. Adhering to the PRISMA protocol, the methodology involved structured searches in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed using defined search strings, followed by a two-stage screening process against explicit inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from the final corpus of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies for thematic synthesis. The analysis reveals that mobile banking has significantly increased women’s transactional access. However, profound barriers to full economic inclusion persist. Key findings indicate that socio-cultural norms, limited digital literacy, and a lack of tailored financial products restrict women’s ability to leverage these tools for savings, credit, and entrepreneurial growth beyond basic remittances. The review underscores that technological availability does not automatically equate to empowerment. Its significance lies in consolidating evidence to shift the discourse from a techno-centric view to a holistic perspective foregrounding gendered structural inequalities. Consequently, policymakers and providers must design integrated interventions addressing infrastructural deficits, social dynamics, and financial education to realise transformative inclusion for rural Kenyan women.