Role of Entrepreneurial Responses on the Growth of Women Street Vending in Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is perceived as one of the substantial aspects that lead to development, where entrepreneurs are faced with the task of organizing and managing businesses and in the process assuming all risks of their entrepreneurial ventures. Women entrepreneurs all over the world are contributing numerous ideas, energy and capital resources and making a difference in the business world. This study examined the responses that pose as important factors for growth in the entrepreneurial world. The study provides insight into the role of entrepreneurial responses on the growth of street vending in Kenya. The specific objectives of this study are: To determine the role of Pricing Strategies, to establish the role of proactiveness, To assess the role of entrepreneurial networking and to establish the role of Sales Strategies on the growth of women street vending in Kenya. The study further sought to explore the moderating effect of access to finance on the relationship between entrepreneurial responses on the growth of Women Street vending in Kenya. The target population of the study consisted of 384 women street vendors in Nairobi who were selected by probability sampling using the systematic sampling technique. The method used for primary data collection was questionnaires prepared and administered to women street vendors in the streets of three of Nairobi’s markets. Data analysis employed quantitative techniques on the questionnaires and hypothesis testing and qualitative methods for content analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected where descriptive involved frequencies and percentages and the inferential statistics involved correlation analysis and regression to test for the relationship of the variables. Various tests like sampling adequacy test, normality and multicollinearity were carried out during data analysis and the study presented the findings using tables and charts. The response rate of the study was 315 respondents out of the possible 384 a majority of who ranged from 18 to 36 years of age. The correlation results showed that Pricing Strategies, proactiveness, entrepreneurial networking and Sales Strategies were strongly associated to growth of women street vending in Kenya. Logistic Regression results revealed that Pricing Strategies, proactiveness, entrepreneurial networking and Sales Strategies were positively and significantly related to growth of Women Street vending in Kenya. Access to finance was found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between the entrepreneurial variables and growth of Women Street vending in Nairobi. The study concludes that, all the independent variables have a positive and significant effect on the growth of Women Street vending in Kenya. It recommends that the women engaging in street vending should ensure they are proactive in their business by introducing new products ahead of competition and acting in anticipation of future demand to create, change and shape the environment.