| dc.description.abstract | The current constitution of Kenya provides a new window of opportunity to
address SMEs related issues through regulatory and institutional reforms under a
new, devolved governance system as well as the Micro and Small Enterprises Act
2012.Most of the women running SMEs in Likuyani Sub- County are married
(63.81%) and this implies that they get support from their husband. This study
investigated on the factors that influence establishment of Small and Micro
enterprises owned by women in Likuyani Sub- County, Kakamega County. The
study was guided by four objectives and questions derived from the objectives.
They sought to establish the extent to which economic status of women, sociocultural
factors, environmental factors influenced the establishment of women in
Small and Micro enterprises and the relationship between the women’s level of
education and performance of Small and Micro Enterprises in Likuyani Sub-
County. The dependent variable of the study was the establishment of SMEs by
women, while the independent variables were the economic factors, the education
level, the socio-cultural and the environmental factors. Data was collected using
descriptive survey. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The
theoretical framework that guided the study was the liberal feminist theory that is
based on premise that women are facing overt discrimination from education or
business experience. And social feminist theory is based on socialization process,
such as; family setting, social values, norms, experience, education aspiration, and
expectations. The target population was the women running the enterprise in
Likuyani Sub-County with a sample size of 248 women, which was identified
using the Krecjien and Morgan Table (1970). The three wards were identified
using simple random sampling. The study grouped the population into strata. The
study employed the use of questionnaire as the main tool of data collection. Data
was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and presented on tables. Analyzed
data was interpreted and conclusions drawn findings indicated, economic status of
women account for 36.6% initiation, socio-cultural of women account for 34.4%
of establishment of SMEs, education level account for 27.8% and thus
environmental for account 31.3%.
The researcher recommends further research by targeting high profile women
entrepreneurs who are knowledgeable, then the government to measures on how to
train women on business skills, to mobilize funds so as to upgrade the
infrastructure especially roads and lastly to make sure that SMEs Development
Services are gender sensitive to consider the needs and interest of women. | en_US |
