Street-based enterprise graduation: a comparative study of eldoret and nakuru municipalities, Kenya

Street-based enterprises (SBEs) constitute the lowest ebb in the enterprise continuum in Kenya. This study aimed at examining the factors that influence SBE graduation in the enterprise continuum. The objectives of this study were to examine the factors which motivated the street-based enterprises to assess the performance of SBEs, to examine the factors that contributed to the graduation of SBEs into the micro enterprise sector and to assess the level of satisfaction in the graduation status as compared to the previous status. This study was based on a comparative survey research. Individual elements were selected using simple random sampling and the Sample size determination was based on Saunders et al. method. Data analysis was based on frequencies and Pairwise matrix ranking. The key findings show that SBEs had a major impact on employment generation and provision of goods and services in the two municipalities. The support and regulatory agencies observed that skills development was vital in the graduation. Family relations played a major role at the start-up stage in both municipalities. The pre-requisite to graduation was capital and business management skills development. The other factors that influenced (SBEs), graduation were frustration in SBEs in Eldoret and best alternative to a living while in Nakuru need to control own life, personal fulfillment and to acquire more income. Satisfaction level in graduated status in Eldoret was moderate to low while in Nakuru was moderate to high. SBE graduation should be supported to enhance to support the graduation