| dc.description.abstract | Ever since the 1972 ILO report on 'Employment, Incomes and Equality in Kenya',
MSEs' importance was highlighted and has remained popular among majority of
Kenyans who cannot engage in formal employment. MSEs are important means of
livelihoods for many Kenyan families. On the basis of the importance of this sector, this
study looked into the involvement of women in MSEs in Garissa town, with the objective
of establishing the socio-economic characteristics of women entrepreneurs and nature of
their businesses.
The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained from
individual women entrepreneurs operating MSEs in the Garissa main market, through an
interviewer-administered questionnaire. Proportionate stratified random sampling was
used and a total of 100 questionnaires were administered to 100 women entrepreneurs.
The information gathered, which helped in fulfilling the set objectives, followed the
methodology outlined and was within the theoretical basis of Empowerment approach in
bringing to the fore issues particular to Garissa women entrepreneurs.
The results of the study showed convincing consistencies with other studies in Kenya.
First and foremost Garissa women entrepreneurs engaged in MSEs to meet family
obligations in so far as provisions of basic needs are concerned. Further the results
showed that majority of the Garissa women entrepreneurs were unmarried (64%),
middle-aged (52%), majority had no formal education (89%) or training (95%) and most
had no business experience prior to start of their businesses (91%). In addition the study
established that 93% of these women had at least one dependent to feed, clothe, educate
and provide health care.
Study findings further showed that these women engaged in the sell clothe, miraa, milk,
charcoal, cereals, ghee, traditional handicrafts, vegetable vending, tailoring and
operating small hotels. Most of these women entrepreneurs were thus in trade and
services sector, majority being in the trade sector. Over 50% of these businesses were
started between 1998 and 2002. The study found out that Garissa women entrepreneurs
operated self-run micro businesses, as regards the number of employees since only 12
women said they had between 1 and 5 employees. The study established that majority of
Garissa women entrepreneurs started their businesses with low initial capital and
received low monthly returns: However those who were not able to raise the initial
capital received both financial and non-financial support from family and friends.
Finally the study noted that women operating MSEs in Garissa faced a number of
constraints, some of which were unique to the area notably banditry, general insecurity
and poor road networks that inhibit expansion of businesses to other places in the
district. There were no permanent market places and the women experienced occasional
eviction. Financial constraints were also sighted. Seeking family financial help, building
permanent market place, combating banditry by government forces and making road
networks to link different settlements in the district were deemed the most appropriate
solutions to the sighted constraints. Even with these constraints, 88% of these
entrepreneurs had intentions to expand their businesses.
The findings of this study have policy, empirical and future research implications. Policy
is needed to address gender imbalances in the area with regard to increasing education
and training especially of the women. Policy is also required to establish road networks
in the entire province to help develop MSEs. Any agency interested in MSEs 'promotion
in the area may need to sensitize the entrepreneurs on better ways of meeting financial
needs to break away from family dependencies. Future research may need to explore
reasons why majority of the married women in MSEs were in polygamous marriages. | en |
