Factors influencing performance of Women owned micro and small enterprises in Kikuyu sub county, Kiambu county Kenya

Abstract

This research study sought to establish factors that influence performance of women owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county which is a fast growing business hub with many MSEs in both the product and services industries where the large population would benefit from such a study through business growth and better performance. The objectives of the research project were to establish whether key factors influencing performance of women owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county were: business skills; family responsibilities; communication skills and personal financial credibility. The study was informed by the theory of group dynamics by Kurt Lewin and the researcher employed the descriptive survey design because it aimed at observing and describing the women entrepreneurs’ views without influencing them in any way. In this study, the target population was 307 women owned micro and small enterprises operating in Kikuyu subcounty and 5 county government officials, all who gave their views on factors influencing performance of women owned MSEs. The research design used was descriptive survey design where the target population was divided into various groups or strata. The sample population was picked using stratified random sampling from each of the four stratums namely beauty salons, farm produce traders, general and tailoring shops. Primary data was collected through administering two sets of questionnaires to both the women entrepreneurs and county officials. The quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences and presented using percentages, frequencies and tables. This study established that poor business skills, unequal balance between domestic and business responsibilities, ineffective communication skills and poor personal financial credibility promoted discrimination based on gender hence affecting performance of women owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county. The research findings are expected to assist women entrepreneurs in Kikuyu sub-county become aware of these factors influencing their full business growth potential hence enable them put in place action points that would help promote self sustenance and economic development thus poverty reduction in Kikuyu sub-county. An in-depth study of factors that influence performance of women owned MSEs in other towns of Nairobi County should be carried out to find out whether they experience similar challenges as those faced in Kiambu County. The study recommends that Kiambu County government should develop policies that will ensure training on business management skills among all entrepreneurs. This could be done through holding of regular entrepreneurship training workshops so as to improve the performance and promote the growth of MSEs which would contribute to the growth of the economy.