The Social Factors that Influence Growth of Women Owned Businesses in the Informal Sector in Kenya: A Case of Women Street Vendors in Bungoma Town, Bungoma District

Mumaraki, Rosemary Nanyama (2008) The Social Factors that Influence Growth of Women Owned Businesses in the Informal Sector in Kenya: A Case of Women Street Vendors in Bungoma Town, Bungoma District. Masters thesis, Kenyatta University.

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Abstract

This study was set to investigate the social factors that influence the growth of the women owned Small Enterprises in Kenya. A case of women roadside traders in Bungoma town, Bungoma West District was preferred. The specific objectives of the study were to identify these social factors and determine those that influence growth of these women owned roadside enterprises. The study also explains why these women chose to operate along roadsides and other open areas. The social factors include level of education, age bracket, family size and marital status, training and previous occupation of the women entrepreneurs. The factors investigated, some are deemed to stimulate growth while others inhibit the rates of growth of informal sector so much so that these enterprises do not break into the domain of small- medium and large enterprises sector usually referred to as the " missing- middle". Studies done earlier also indicate that there is an influx of women entrepreneurs into the informal sector because of low yields and shrinking farm sizes in addition to them not having any rights of land. The findings of the research reveal that women owned roadside enterprises provide an avenue for marketing of the District's agricultural produce and also supports other formal enterprises in the District. The research reveals that these women have low levels of education, 90 percent are married and have families, and 84 percent of them have not been employed before, most of the women entrepreneurs have no training or previous skills in the business they are engaging in, 60 percent of the women entrepreneurs are within the productive prime age of between 24 years to 45 years. The study therefore reveals that social factors have a diverse effect on the growth of the women owned informal enterprises.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2018 12:18
Last Modified:	23 Jan 2018 12:18
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/3171

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