Determinants of Women Participation in Entrepreneurial activities in Murang’a County, Kenya

Abstract

A variety of initiatives and utilities have indeed been availed to the female community across Kenya to motivate them towards entrepreneurship; the saddest part is that a greater community is still interested in positions traditionally dominated by women, which are mostly small investment with nothing to give or diminished prospects. The goal of this study is to explore the determinants of women's involvement towards entrepreneurial engagements in Murang'a County, Kenya. The specific objectives included establishing whether demographic factors impact women involvement in entrepreneurial engagements in Kenya; Identify if social networks influence women involvement in entrepreneurial activities in Kenya; examine if availability to finance influence women involvement in entrepreneurial activities in Kenya; To Determine Whether Existing Regulatory Environment Affects Women Engagement Towards Entrepreneurial Activities in Kenya. Participants to this study were selected business owners in Murang'a County. The questionnaires were meant for the compilation of primary data. The analysis can benefit female owners with the preferred capacity to engage in entrepreneurship. This study was based on a descriptive research design and used key methods that were used to gather data. The data analysis was focused on descriptive statistics and the data description was focused on the Frequency Distribution Tables. In addition, the data presentation contained percentages, mathematical graphs and pie charts that advanced the outcomes from analysis with help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). There was inferential analysis, which was in form of correlation analysis followed by multiple regressions done to purposely test hypothesis and establish a model for determining the entrepreneurial activities. After analysis, the findings were expressed using figure as well as tables. Results from the research findings show access to

finance (sig. = 0.000), social networks (p-value = 0.00) and the regulatory framework (p- value. = 0.00) have a substantial effect on women’s engagement in entrepreneurship in

Murang'a County. However, demographic factors were found to insignificantly (p-value =0.226) affect women’s engagement in entrepreneurship. On the basis of the first demographic goal, woman owners should routinely participate in stronger and more sustainable ventures in order to erase concerns regarding their skills related to their sexuality, life expectancy, pedigree and education. They should welcome every opening up of entrepreneurship training. On the grounds of the second goal of social networks, woman owners can routinely obtain support and support services from families and appropriate partnerships or networks. In addition, woman owners can provide mentoring to potential woman owners focused on the third objective of access to finance. Importantly, they should raise awareness of financial institutions, along with their processes and attractive prospects, to allow them to explore lending facilities. On the basis of the fourth objective of regulatory framework goal, the Department of Commerce in Murang'a County Government should introduce educational programs to notify businessmen of regulatory requirements.