Entrepreneurial intentions among the youth in

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether entrepreneurial intentions are high among the youth aged between 18 and 30 and to establish whether actions by entrepreneurial reference groups contributed to the build-up of entrepreneurial intentions. It also sought to find out which of the push and pull factors of entrepreneurship influence the youth more in their decisions to start a business and which of the inhibitors prevent them from starting businesses. The sample was drawn from 4 universities and 4 TIVET institutions in Nairobi CBD. A maximum of 10 students from each of the institutions were picked randomly to participate in the study. Primary data for this survey study were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data so collected was analysed using the students' edition of STATISTIX. The findings indicated that both students from TIVET institutions and universities had a significant level of entrepreneurial intentions. The findings also showed that reference groups playa considerable role in promoting entrepreneurship. The majority of respondents believed that the entrepreneurship courses they had been exposed to were sufficient preparation for success in business. They also believed that parents could playa greater role in influencing their entrepreneurial intentions. The study elicited activities that entrepreneurial reference groups could do which would enhance entrepreneurial intentions. The study recommends that mentoring activities be incorporated into entrepreneurship programs. Specifically, reference groups can playa bigger positive role in increasing entrepreneurial intentions. Push and pull factors playa big role in enabling entrepreneurship and tackling them objectively could increase the actual number of start-ups.