dc.contributor.author | Thiga, Victoria N | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-11-25T13:25:22Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-11-25T13:25:22Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2013 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Degree of masters of Arts in Gender and Development Studies | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/60090 | |
dc.description | A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement
For the award of the degree of master in gender and
Development studies, institute of anthropology, gender and
African studies university of Nairobi | en |
dc.description.abstract | There are large numbers of poor women in Mathare slum despite the numerous economic
opportunities available for exploitation within the area and its environs.The few women who
venture into micro enterprises encounter serious challenges that hinder them from prospering
since most of the support is tailored for small and medium enterprises.The broad objective this
study is to explore the major challenges that women entrepreneurs face in establishing and
operating micro enterprises in Mathare slums. The objectives of the study were; to examine the
challenges facing women in micro enterprises in Mathare slums and to examine the influence
these challenges on the success of women in micro enterprises in Mathare slums. This study was
conducted in Mathare which is one of the informal settlements in Nairobi City County. The study
population comprised of all women who run grocery and food kiosks in the area. The study used
convenience sampling method which involves selecting participants from whatever cases that
happen to be available at any given time or place. A sample of 25 female participants was
selected from the study population. This study used a cross sectional descriptive design. The
main instrument used in the collection of primary data was a semi-structured questionnaire
constructed to provide for both open and closed ended questions. The study found that
respondents’ current enterprises had been in operation for less than 6 months. The challenges
that women in the area faced in trying to access credit lack of collateral, an unwillingness to
accept household assets as collateral and negative perceptions of female entrepreneurs by loan
officers. Formal financial support proved to be too expensive for many women entrepreneurs.
Challenges facing women entrepreneurs included lack of suitable location or sales outlet; stiff
competition; low purchasing power of the local population; lack of marketing knowhow;
seasonal nature of the business; lack of market information ;inadequate infrastructure; shortage
of time (due to multiple tasks) ;shortage of raw materials and shortage of working capital. The
results reveal that success of women enterprises depends on the formal education and the training
received. The important challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in establishing and growing
the business were finance, managing the business and making decisions about the business. Most
women entrepreneurs in the area had very little or no education making it hard to run the
business well.They were not able to manage business funds and ended up spending the funds on
family needs which could lead to business bankruptcy. To fight poverty in Kenya, the pivotal
place of women in society (specifically in rural areas) needs to be accepted and supported.
Married women should be given support by their spouse in respect of finances, motivational
encouragement, advice and actual involvement in the running of business.The public sector and
formal financial organizations should be sensitized on the value of gender-balanced participation
in the informal sector enterprises. Women entrepreneurs in Kenya should be taught on the value
of being independent. This will stimulate them to do things on their own like acquiring property. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.title | Challenges Facing Women in Micro Enterprises in Mathare Slums, Nairobi City County | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | Institute of anthropology, Gender and African studies | en |