ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
Micro and Small Scale Enterprises play a major role in strengthening the Kenyan economy. The Sessional Paper No. 2 of 1992 on Small Scale and Jua Kali Development in Kenya focused on the role of Micro and Small Enterprises and stressed the potential of the MSE sector to function as a catalyst of growth for the country’s development. The Micro and Small Enterprises and especially those owned by women are a useful tool for Poverty reduction (45%), Promotes Rural Urban balance and stimulate Entrepreneurial spirit and development. Despite their significance, past statistics indicate that three (3) out of five (5) businesses fail within the first few months of operation. The study aimed at determining the influence of Legal and Regulatory Framework on the Performance of Women Owned enterprises. Literature related to the variables of the study was reviewed in relation to Performance of Women Owned Enterprises. The Social Cultural Theory of Entrepreneurship was used in the study. The study employed a cross sectional descriptive research design and employed a positivism philosophy. The study sample size was 260 respondents identified through two stages of probabilistic sampling techniques; stratified and simple random sampling because of the population’s homogenous characteristics. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and interview guide. Reliability testing was carried out using Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha test, which was found to be above 0.7, it indicated satisfactory reliability. Descriptive and inferential Analysis was carried out. Inferential Statistics used the simple linear regression model and ANOVA. For the specific objective, the decision to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis was based on the significance of coefficients (p < 0.05) of the variable in the fitted regression. The study found the influence of Legal and Regulatory Framework on firm performance to be insignificant. The findings of this study supports and add knowledge to previous studies on entrepreneurship. The results support the Social Cultural Theory, that entrepreneurship can develop in an environment when its regulation, ethos, philosophies, standards and code of practices permits a variety of choices and where social, political and economic processes and procedures are not rigid and in a situation which encourages the development of personalities interested with enterprises. The study recommends all stakeholders in entrepreneurship, policy and practice and women entrepreneurs to enhance the application of Legal and Regulatory Framework in the Women Owned Enterprises in Embu County.
Ader, H., Mellenbergh, G., & Hand, D. (2008). Advising on research methods: A consultant’s companion. Belgium: Johannes van Kessel Publishing.
Afza, T., and Rashid, M. A. (2009) Marginalised Women Social Wellbeing through Enterprise Development. A glimpse of remote women status in Pakistan. Pakistan: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Agarwal, B. (2009). Basic Statistics, (5th ed.). New Delhi: New Age International.
Ahmad, S. Z. (2011). Evidence Of The Characteristics 0f Women Entrepreneurs in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An empirical investigation. Saudi Arabia: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Akinboade, O. A., & Kinfack, E. (2012). Regulation, awareness, compliance and SME performance in Cameroon's manufacturing and retail sectors. International Journal of Social Economics, 39(12), 933-950.
Allen, K. R. (2010). New Venture Creation, International Edition. South-Western: Cengage Learning.
American Statistical Association (ASA). (1997). How to conduct pre-testing: section on survey research methods. Alexandria: American Statistical Association.
Anderson, M., & Shaw, R. (1999). A comparative evaluation of qualitative data analytic techniques in identifying volunteer motivation in tourism. Journal of Tourism Management, 20(1), 99-106.
Barringer, B. R., & Duane, I. R. (2013). Entrepreneurship- Successfully Launching New Ventures (4th ed.). New Delhi: Pearson Education Limited.
Bird, J. B. (1989). Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Illinois – London: Glenview.
Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2011). Business Research Methods, (3th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press
Buzzard, S., & Edgcomb, E. (1987). Monitoring and evaluating small business projects: a step by step guide for private development organizations. Pact. Wageningen: Wageningen University
Bwisa, H. M. (2011). Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: A Kenyan Perspective. Nairobi: The Jomo Kenyattta Foundation.
Churchill, N. C., & Lewis, V. L. (1983). The five stages of small business growth. Harvard business review, 61(3), 30-50.
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2009). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited.
Covin, J. G., & Slevin, D. P. (1991). Entrepreneurial Versus Conservative Firms: A Comparison of Strategies and Performances. Journal of Management Studies, 28,439-462.
Dondo, A. (1994). Credit to the Informal Sector Approaches and Models Experienced in Kenya. Occasional Paper. No. 27. Kenya Rural Enterprise Program. Nairobi, Kenya.
Drucker, P. F. (2007). Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Principles and Practices. New York: Elseviert Book Aid International.
Fatoki, O. O. (2011). The Impact of Human, Social and Financial Capital on the performance of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. Journal of Social Sciences, 29(3), 193-204.
Feeri, P., Deakins, D., & Whittam, G. (2009). The measurements of Social Capital in the Entrepreneurial Context. Journal of Enterprising Communities, People and Places in the Global Economy, 3(2), 138-151.
Fening, F. A., Pesakovic, G., & Amaria, P. (2008). Relationship between quality management practices and the performance of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 61(3), 30-50.
Fontana, A., & Frey, J. H. (2000). The interview: From structured questions to negotiated text. In K. Denzin and Y.S. Lincoln, (Eds.). Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. (2007). Educational Research, (8th edition.) Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Gill, A., & Biger, N. (2012). Barriers to small business growth in Canada. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19(4), 656-668.
Government of Kenya. (1986). Economic Management for Renewed Economic Growth. Sessional Paper No 1 of 1986. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (1992). Sessional Paper No. 2 of 1992 on Small Enterprise and Jua Kali Development. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (1996). Sessional Paper No. 2 of 1996 on Industrial Transformation by the Year 2020. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (2005). Sessional Paper No.2 of 2005 on Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Wealth and Employment Creation for poverty Reduction. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (2007). Kenya Vision 2030: A Competitive and Prosperous Kenya, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (2013). Public Private Partnership Act.National Council for Law Reporting, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Government of Kenya. (2014). Economic Survey 2014, Nairobi: KNBS.
Halkias, D., Nwajiuba, C., Harkiolakis, N., & Caracatsanis, S. M. (2011). Challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Management Research Review, 34(2), 221-235.
Harris, L., Rae, A., & Misner, I. (2012). Punching above their weight: the changing role of networking in SMEs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19(2), 335-351.
Harris, L., Rae, A., & Misner, I. (2012). Punching above their weight: the changing role of networking in SMEs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 19(2), 335-351.
ILO. (1999). National Micro and Small Enterprises. Baseline Survey. Geneva: International Labour Organisation.
In-Text Citation: ( Kangethe et al., 2022)
To Cite this Article: Kangethe, A. T. W., Simiyu, D. N., Gacheru, E. N., & Gacheru, N. (2022). Legal Regulatory Framework and the Performance of Women Owned Enterprises in Kenya A Study of Embu County. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 12(7), 82 – 105.
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode