Socio - Economic Factors under Which Women Micro-Entrepreneurs Operate in Nakuru Town West Constituency - Kenya

Women micro-entrepreneurs are known to contribute to employment creation, income generation and family well-being. However, various studies indicate that women face constraints that limit their business growth and survival. Evidence indicate that in Nakuru County, the rate of business survival between 2008 and 2014 was 13 in every 3 years for male operated enterprises as compared to 14 in every 3 years for female operated enterprises. These issues provided the framework for this study whose specific objectives was to determine socio - economic factors under which women micro-entrepreneurs operate in nakuru Town west constituency Kenya. The study used survey research design and adopted cross-sectional approach to achieve these objectives. One hundred and sixty six (166) out of 830 women operated micro-enterprises (MEs) were sampled through multistage sampling procedure. Both primary and secondary data were obtained and used. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze characteristics of women micro-entrepreneurs. The study findings show that majority of the women operators were between 20-40 years, had attained secondary level of education, and were married. Further, findings show that strategies employed by the women micro-entrepreneurs to cope with socio-economic factors that negatively influence the growth of their enterprises include, joining Informal Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs), diversification of goods and services, relocation, and, apprenticeship. The study concludes that women micro-entrepreneurs need to be better equipped to perform better in their entrepreneurial pursuits through developing their human capital. The study recommends that policy makers at national, and County governments should address these limitations so as to promote women micro-entrepreneurs.