Entrepreneurial Training and Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises Under Youth Employment Opportunities Project in Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurship training has been cited to promote innovativeness, risk taking, opportunity identification, business management, and technical skills development. This in turn leads to improvement in business performance. The study will be based in Kisumu County. Kisumu County is one of the counties that has benefited from KYEOP with more than 500 MSEs benefiting from entrepreneurship training. This study3sought to3determine the effect of3entrepreneurial training3on performance of MSEs under KYEOP in Kisumu County. The study3was based on descriptive3research design. Stratified random3sampling was used to3select the businesses based on3size. The study3used both primary3and secondary data. Primary3data was collected3using questionnaire while3data collection schedule was used to collect3secondary data. Descriptive3and multiple regression were used3for data analysis. The study3found that content3of training positively influenced the sales and number of customers of beneficiary MSEs significantly. The content of training related to business management, marketing and entrepreneurship skills. The study further found that nature of training positively and significantly influenced sales and number of customers among beneficiary MSEs. The nature of training was shown by in-house training, lecture method, field trips or discussions. The business performance grew tremendously as from august 2019 up to Dec 2019. The study concludes that entrepreneurship training influences business performance positively through increased sales and number of customers. The study also concludes that MSEs in Kisumu County experienced increased sales3and number of3customers after training. The study recommends3that KYEOP set out clear and appropriate policy objectives for policies and programmes that seek to develop entrepreneurship skills among entrepreneurs. KYEOP should identify existing tailored entrepreneurship training programmes for youth entrepreneurs. The study recommends a research on other variables influencing performance of beneficiary MSEs other than entrepreneurial training. The study further recommends a similar study on non-beneficiary MSEs in Kenya. Research with a wider scope would be imperative in assessing the influence of entrepreneurial training on business performance