An investigation of challenges affecting young women entrepreneurs assisted by technoserve in Nairobi Province

Abstract

Unemployment among the youths especially in Kenya is very high. The government has tried to solve this problem by initiating a youth ministry aimed at training the youths in business skills to help them start small scale enterprises. Studies indicate that young women entrepreneurs are facing many challenges in their entrepreneurial endeavours. This study investigated the challenges facing young women entrepreneurs assisted by Techno serve in Nairobi province. The researcher examined the existing literature on entrepreneurship in general and young women entrepreneurs. The existing literature examined included history of entrepreneurship, youths and entrepreneurship, youth education and training in Kenya, women in business and globalization, growth of women owned business in USA and Kenya general constraints faced by women entrepreneurs and the role of entrepreneurship in national development. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect data. A list of research questions was developed then sent to the respondents who provided answers to the questions then the researcher collected the answered questions. Qualitative data analysis was used to analyze data. The research findings showed that; most young women entrepreneurs fall in the age 2125 years. Most of the Kenyan young women entrepreneurs are single and very few are separated or divorced; most of the Kenyan young women entrepreneurs have allied education up to the form four level. The major factors which motivate young women entrepreneurs are unemployment, family responsibility, inadequate opportunity to advance in education and availability of business grants from the government and nongovernmental organizations. Most of the young women entrepreneurs engage in service and simple manufacturing businesses. Lack of management skills is the greatest challenge young women entrepreneurs are facing. The following are the main study recommendations; young women who attained a higher level of education such as diploma, degree or above degree level should also be encouraged to engage in entrepreneurial activities; the ministry of education should review the guidelines on courses and subjects at different levels of education so that young women would be equipped with necessary skills to engage in entrepreneurial activities. Young women should be assisted to construct permanent shades to operate their businesses; they should be exposed to capacity building programmes and life skills to help them ease the burden of family responsibilities.