Influence of Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurial Intentions among Undergraduate Students in Kenya

Abstract

Scholars have found out that the precursor of entrepreneurial behavior among potential entrepreneurs is entrepreneurial intention hence the attention of this study. The government of Kenya has for a long time struggled with the bulging number of unemployed graduates and the solution to this can be explored in entrepreneurship development intentions and realization among the youth majority of whom are undergraduates. Many studies on entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates have focused mainly on developed countries and less on developing nations like Kenya. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to bridge the gap by investigating influence of self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students in Kenya.The study was anchored on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior that views behavioral intent as an immediate determinant of planned behavior. The study adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. This design was appropriate for capturing data at a single point in time from a large population. The study had a population of 40,000 students from the selected university students out of which, 1% (400) was picked as the study sample size thorugh a multistage sampling technique. Of these 336 students responded to the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Inferential statistics were used in the analaysis. The students generally reported high levels of self-efficacy and strong intentions to engage in entrepreneurship as a career pathway. The study found that self-efficacy positively impact entrepreneurial intentions. The study recommends that programs aimed at building students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy should be prioritized. Students should also be encouraged to undertake small-scale business projects during their studies.