An investigation into the factors affecting the growth of women-owned small and micro enterprises in Kenya : a case of selected markets in Nairobi Province
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Date
2011-10-19
Authors
Karanja, Rachel N
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Abstract
In Kenya, dominance of trade over other sectors - manufacturing, services and
construction - occupy two thirds of the country's enterprises. This means that a large
proportion of Micro-Small Enterprises (MSEs) is engaged in buying and selling of
commodities. Women productive activities are concentrated in small-micro enterprises in
such ventures as hawking, retail trade, manufacturing and periodic market trade, (Mullei,
Bokea 1999). Participation of women in trade is 86 per cent, which is (20 per cent higher
than men). Despite the numerical dominance of women in small-micro enterprises, there
are marked gender disparities and inequalities between men and women participating in
similar activities. Studies touching on problems affecting women entrepreneurs give
emphasis to economic forces and fail to address adverse African traditions that inhibit
women's participation in MSEs.
This study investigated the factors affecting the growth of women owned micro-small
enterprises. The researcher surveyed women micro-small enterprises in view of business
structure, performance and constraints hindering their participation in MSEs. The
objectives of the study are: (i) to determine the demographic characteristics of women
operating MSEs (ii) to establish what motivates women to participate in MSEs. (iii) to
determine the role played by education, training and previous jobs in making of
entrepreneurs. (iv) to investigate the factors affecting the growth of women MSEs.
Literature related to the study was reviewed. A survey method was adopted whereby
purposive sampling method was used to select 60 women micro-small entrepreneurs from
a target population of 600 women entrepreneurs from 3 markets in Nairobi province:
Wakulima, Gikomba and Kangemi Harambee market which were selected using
purposive sampling method. Structured and unstructured questionnaires were used to
collect the data, which Was analyzed using Statistical Package for social Sciences (SPSS).
Simple regression and correlation was used to determine the relationship between
variables.
Description
The HD 6053.K37
Keywords
Businesswomen--Kenya--Nairobi province//Small business--Kenya--Nairobi Province