Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurship Among the Swahili Community in Mvita Constituency in Mombasa County, Coastal Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is considered as an avenue for women empowerment. World over, There has been an increase in women entrepreneurs actively managing businesses. Despite these efforts women have lagged behind in top level positions and only appear to be active in low-level participation. The main aim of this study is to investigate the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County. This study examines the level of women‟s participation in entrepreneurship activities as well as challenges facing women entrepreneurship in Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County. The design of this research is descriptive survey research. The researcher targeted a population of 380 but sample 114 was obtained. The data collected was abridged and evaluated using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). From the findings of the study most women entrepreneurs in the Mombasa market are between the ages of 26-35 and this is the age when most of the women entrepreneurs start businesses. Provision of soft loans constitutes a factor that deters the women entrepreneurs in successively managing the businesses effectively. They are illiterate on how to access this financial aid. Also lack of real security is another major blow to the women entrepreneurs. The study recommends that the financial institutions should set simple ways of gaining access to the monetary facilities plus giving them reasonable rates and ample time specification to enable them to repay with ease. The organization of women small scale businesses should carry out quarterly seminars to educate the women on the major issues in running a business to maturity.