Abstract:
The promotion of women participation in economic activities is perceived as a primary
means of attaining economic growth and at the same time improve the standard of living
of many Kenya's poorest, who are mainly women.
Studies on micro-enterprises suggest that only a small percentage is able to grow (Band
and Bruijne, 1993). There are a number of factors that contribute to this slow growth.
The suggested factors include lack of working capital, location of the enterprises,
marketing, pricing, poor record keeping, lack of relevant training, multiple roles, socio-
economic activities that women entrepreneurs engaged in, inadequate managerial
experience and low levels of formal education.
The objective of this study, therefore was to investigate into the causes of slow growth of
women-owned registered vegetable vendors in Nairobi's Eastlands Area. The study shall
consider women vegetable vendors in this area.
A descriptive survey method was be used and also simple sampling techniques was
applied. A simple random sampling method was applied. The sample was comprise 10%
of women vegetable vendors in each market. These markets include Jericho, Uhuru,
Mutindwa, Kariobangi, Umoja, Eastleigh and Kariobangi South and have a population of
513 registered women vegetable vendors. The sample size was 55 women vegetable
vendors.
Data was collected using a semi -structured questionnaire which was administered by the
researcher on a face-to-face interview. The data was analysed using cross tabulation and
tables to show the percentages and frequencies of the findings.
The analysis of the study findings was based on the causes of slow growth on women
vegetable vendors. The study revealed that capital, location, level of education, training
and socio-economic activities contribute to the slow growth of the businesses in the
study.
The study recommends that the government should come up with programmes on the
micro-credit and training packages that favour SMEs. It also recommends that
entrepreneurs should be encouraged to join informal associations through which they can
be educated on networking in regard to their business growth.
