MICROFINANCE SERVICES AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN MARSABIT COUNTY, KENYA
Diba Denge Diba, Dr. Vincent Shiundu Mutswenje (PhD)
Department of Accounting and Finance, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Abstract
In Marsabit county, the performance of most SMEs have been declining with some businesses even closing down. Though there are a lot of SMEs that are set up in Marsabit County, most of them close down with the first three years of their operation. This is majorly due to declining profits. For example, in the year 2021 more than 20% of the SMEs in Marsabit County reported losses while in the year 2022 the number of SMEs that recorded losses increased to 26%. The fact that most SMEs owners lack enough knowledge on micro finance services as well as most micro finance banks have a lot of regulations puts SMEs off from accessing their services puts the performance of the SMEs at threat. This study aimed to determine the effect of microfinance services on financial success of SMEs in Marsabit County, Kenya. Specifically, the research sought to ascertain the influence of credit facilities on financial success of SMEs. Descriptive research approach was employed in this research. The 628 SMEs in Kenya's Marsabit County make up the study's intended audience. Using stratified random sampling, 117 owners and managers of SMEs in Marsabit County, Kenya, made up the sample size. Primary data was gathered by the researcher. Questionnaires with some structures were used to gather data. Descriptive statistics like means, frequencies, and standard deviation were adopted to analyze quantitative data. To ascertain the link between the variables, inferential statistics such as regression analysis and correlation was performed. Tables and graphs were used to display the data. In view of the effect of credit facilities on financial performance of SMEs in Marsabit County, Kenya, regression results which aimed to ascertain the effect of credit facilities on financial performance of SMEs, it was suggested that credit facilities was statistically significant and hypothesis two was rejected and the correlation was very strong (0.000<0.05). The study recommends that, despite the challenges and obstacles faced by SMEs, they must exhibit the capacity for enhanced performance, growth, and maintenance of their role as a vital contributor to the nation's GDP, provided they have access to requisite finance.
Keywords: Microfinance Services, Financial Performance, Financial Literacy, Credit Facilities and Development of Managerial Skills.
Journal Name :
VIEW PDF
EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies (EBMS)
VIEW PDF
Published on : 2025-11-29
| Vol | : | 12 |
| Issue | : | 11 |
| Month | : | November |
| Year | : | 2025 |