Title: Growth determinants of micro and small enterprises in the fishing industry in Bondo District, Kenya

Authors: Jacob Olango Onyango

Addresses: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Maseno University, Private Bag Maseno, Kenya

Abstract: The micro and small enterprises in the fishing industry have a role to play in creating jobs and generating income for school leavers and retrenched employees. This study was a survey of growth determinants of micro and small enterprises in Bondo District. Stratified random sampling was used to select six beaches out of 68 beaches in Bondo District. Simple random sampling was used to select 15% of the owners of Micro and Small Fishing Enterprises (MSFEs) operating at each of the six beaches. Questionnaires and observation schedules were used to collect data. The study revealed that the growth of MSFEs was influenced by the availability of credit finance to boost the MSFEs, laws and regulations, insecurity, poor state of roads serving the beaches and heavy taxation. Consequently, the growth of MSFEs was affected by the lack of an enabling environment. Based on findings, it was recommended that the government provide infrastructure: roads, electricity, telephone and banking services and that fish cooperatives be strengthened to provide credit finance to it members.

Keywords: micro enterprises; small enterprises; fishing industry; development policy; growth determinants; Kenya.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2007.013687

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2007 Vol.4 No.4, pp.397 - 406

Published online: 11 May 2007 *

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