Barriers Affecting Women Business Development in Kenya

Abstract

Women’s entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a critical driver of inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, and employment creation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite increased policy attention and institutional support, women entrepreneurs in Kenya continue to face persistent structural, social, and individual barriers that affect the sustainability of their businesses. This study examines the barriers influencing business success among women business leaders in Kenya, with success operationalized as the number of years a woman’s most successful business has been in operation. Using survey data collected from 52 women business leaders, the study analyzes nine commonly cited barriers: start-up costs, access to financing, market knowledge, employment commitments, family responsibilities, regulatory barriers, social capital, marital support, and ethnic discrimination.
Quantitative analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, multiple regression with ANOVA, bivariate regression, and discriminant analysis. The findings indicate that while financial and regulatory barriers are perceived as significant obstacles at a descriptive level, they do not consistently predict business longevity when examined alongside other factors. Instead, market knowledge and employment commitments emerge as the most robust predictors of sustained business operation. Women who report better understanding of markets and fewer conflicts between employment and entrepreneurial activities tend to operate businesses for longer periods. Discriminant analysis further demonstrates that the combined barrier profile meaningfully distinguishes women whose businesses have achieved at least moderate longevity from those whose ventures are nascent or absent.
The study contributes empirical evidence highlighting the importance of informational and time-related constraints in shaping women’s entrepreneurial outcomes in Kenya. The findings suggest that policy and programmatic interventions should complement financial support with targeted efforts to strengthen market intelligence, business development skills, and flexible work arrangements to enhance the long-term sustainability of women-owned enterprises.