Organizational factors influencing uptake of women enterprise fund credit in Kitui central sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the organizational factors influencing the uptake of Women Enterprise Fund in Kitui Central Sub- County. It focused on the women groups in Kitui Central Sub County. The research objectives of the study were to determine the influence of WEF technical personnel, business development services and WEF credit accessibility on the uptake of Women Enterprise Fund among women groups in Kitui Central Sub County. The literature review focused on theoretical and empirical foundations on the organizational factors influencing WEF credit uptake by women groups in Kitui Central Sub County. The study employed the descriptive survey design. The target population was 1,000 women group chairpersons spread all over Kitui Central Sub County and 20 chairpersons from registered women groups were selected for pilot study. The test-retest method was used to establish data reliability where a coefficient of 0.701 was obtained. Stratified random sampling approach was used to select a sample size of women groups and the respondents were the chairpersons of the respective groups. 20 chairpersons of selected women groups for pilot study did not participate in the actual study. Data was collected using questionnaires for the group members and the interview schedule for the WEF officers. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means and standard deviations and inferential statistics like ANOVA and Multivariate Regression Analysis was used in data presentation and analysis. The findings and analysis was presented in percentages, tables and figures. This study generated information that WEF loan uptake among women in the research area is influenced by WEF technical personnel, and WEF credit availability and less by the business development services. In fact the t-value of 2.557 was found greater than the upper and the lower boundaries in absolute terms respectively (0.533 and 0.66) respectively. WEF credit availability was found to get a t-value of 1.305 greater than the upper and lower boundaries of 0.89 and 4.29. The business development services was found to be of no statistical significance. The t-value here was found to be -1.190 and less greater than the higher and the lower boundaries of 0.069 and -0.276. This means that the business development services had no significant influence on WEF loan uptake. This study recommends that WEF should train, employ and motivate technical personnel and increase loan amounts and make them readily available to increase WEF loan uptake. WEF should also ensure that business development services be a compulsory component of WEF loan product to facilitate women to expand businesses and create employment. The study also recommended that WEF should be autonomous and well financed and allowed to solicit for more funding from any entity. Further research on the impact of WEF in the area was also recommended.