Women Entrepreneurs in Small-Scale Enterprises and Micro Finance Institutions: A case study of Wajir District, North Eastern Province of Kenya.
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Date
2010-05
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Economics and Management Sciences .
Abstract
The study examined women entrepreneurs in small-scale enterprises and their relationship with
microfinance institutions in Arid and Semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya. The study was carried
out in Central division, Wajir district in North Eastern Province. The objectives of the study
were, to find out the roles of micro finance institutions in empowering women enterprises, to
examine the constraints faced bstraints facing women enterprises and to find out the ways
forward to overcome these constraints.
The study utilized sample survey design. The respondents for the study were drawn through
stratified sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling. The data collected were
analyzed using simple frequency distribution tables, percentages, graphs and pie chmis.
Descriptive analysis was also given to explain the information.
The findings of the study included; the amount of loan given to women by micro-finance
institutions were generally small and therefore could not help them start viable business
enterprises.Most of the women entrepreneurs in Wajir central division were illiterates. 33.7% left
school at primary level. This inturn affected their record keeping skills which led to the
mismanagements of the business enterprises.
In respect to the above findings these were some of the conclusions drawn, few women got loans
ranging from Ksh 30,000 and above while large number of the women (50%) got less than ksh
10,000 and socially women entrepreneurs were considered inferior to their male counter pmis
and hence segregated in terms entrepreneurial development.
The following were some of the recommendations of the study; the micro-finance institutions
should increase the amount of loan offered to women entrepreneurs in order for women to
establish a viable business enterprise. The approval of the loan should not take long time as this
would delay the activities of the business enterprises. The government actors should provide and
maintain the basic infrastructure at reasonable cost to consumers.
Description
A research report submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements of Bachelor of Arts in
Economics of Kampala International University.
Keywords
Women Entrepreneurs, Small-Scale Enterprises, Micro Finance Institutions, Kenya.