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The provision of financial services, especially credit and saving facilities plays an important role in the development of the economy. Despite the efforts of microfinance institutions to take microfinance services within the reach of poor people and MSEs that have not benefited from the conventional formal financial system, growth and expansion of MSEs sector had not shown any sign of growth and expansion. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of microfinance institutions lending on micro and small enterprises performance within Kitale Municipality. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the target population was 1,200 MSEs which were registered within Kitale Municipality and had operated for at least three years. The target population was stratified into homogeneous categories as wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and service delivery. A sample of 120 MSEs was drawn proportionately and randomly from the strata. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Completed questionnaires were verified and coded by the researcher in a computerized package then analyzed and summarized in frequency tables, pie charts and figures. The association between microfinance lending and MSE performance variables was established through Chi square and correlation tests at 95% significance level. A multivariate logistic regression was used for significant bivariate variables at 95% significance level. The amount of loans is significantly and positively related with performance of MSEs in Kitale Municipality. Microfinance institutions should reduce the period required for MSEs to participate in training and group formation to facilitate speedy access to MFI loans. The amount of loan given by MFIs to MSEs should be increased to enable the MSEs grow to medium scale enterprises.

The theories and models underpinning strategic decision-making (SDM) are somewhat eclectic that demand multidisciplinary approach and appears non-differential from decision-making (DM) theories. This paper is a first attempt that puts the discipline into perspective of its coherent whole. We start by defining strategy and SDM in order to set the expectations for the rest of the paper. Next, we make an outline on the contribution of management science (MS) to SDM before establishing the relationship with MS and its application to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Subsequently, we make a discussion on the SDM process, SDM theories and models before concluding that the discipline has reached maturity.

Entrepreneurial Orientation is a significant influencer of firm performance more so for manufacturing firms operating under globalization, internationalization and regional integration regimes. Regionalization is the coming together by nations as a means of attaining socio-economic and political goals by nations, which cannot be achieved in isolation.

The study aimed at determining the effect of clustering and collaboration on product innovativeness (PI) in the context of manufacturing SMEs in Kisumu, Kenya. To answer the questions this empirical study raised, a sample of 126 SMEs on the basis of the manufacturing hubs of Kisumu, Kenya. This study provided evidence in support of clustering and collaboration on product innovativeness. Further research is needed to confirm and extend the present results by replicating the principal features of this study with SMEs in other regions within Kenya. The conclusions drawn from this study could inform efforts in designing different supportive actions for different cluster manufacturing SMEs based on their product knowledge gaps within the wider innovation policy initiatives.

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This study was exploring on the growth status of micro and small enterprises owned by women in Kitale municipality, Trans-Nzoia County, Rift valley province in Kenya and the factors that influenced the growth. The dependent variable in the study was growth, while the independent variables were education, social, cultural, environmental condition, skills, technology and financial capacity. A total of 70 respondents were interviewed using an interview guide instrument carefully developed with structured and unstructured questions. The aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the growth of women entrepreneurship in Kitale and specifically to determine, the women's level of education, skills and technology they employ, the social/cultural environmental conditions within which they operate and their financial capacity. The 70 respondents represented the target population which was within Kitale Municipality, selected by stratified random sampling procedures. Details in this project include the introduction, problem statement, the purpose, main and specific objectives of the study, research questions and the scope. A discussion of the available literature on women owned micro and small enterprises, included the enterprises' start-up, undertakings and growth, the missing middle, the social, cultural and environmental conditions , the entrepreneur's education level, skills technology and financing they access. The interventional efforts and growth models were also discussed. The literature review wound up with a critique, a conclusion and the missing gap. The methodology used in conducting the study was explained in details that included descriptive research design, the population, target population, sample size, sampling technique and procedure, the instruments, data collection procedure, processing and analysis. A questionnaire was administered orally to 70 women in MSE within the municipality in order to gather data. The research findings analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences(SPSS), were discussed using a triangulation style along with tables and figures the major factors affecting growth were found to be lack of training, finance, and

Small and Medium Enterprises make significant contribution in the global economy, with respect to enterprise development and new job creation. Effective and efficient mentorship programs tend to raise entrepreneurial outcomes among entrepreneurs operating SMEs. The benefits received from entrepreneurial mentoring would be recognized in the entrepreneurs' objective and subjective entrepreneurial outcomes. The objective of the study was to establish the influence of careers mentoring functions on objective entrepreneurial outcomes within Small and Medium enterprises in Eldoret, Kenya. A sample of 363 SMEs was used for the study out of which 300 entrepreneurs responded to the questionnaires. Content analysis showed that 48 entrepreneurs had been mentored while 252 had not been mentored. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. The addition of chosen demographic features to the prediction of objective entrepreneurial outcome led to a statistically significant increase in R 2 with p < .05. However, the addition of career mentoring factors to the prediction of objective entrepreneurial outcomes showed no significant effect of Career mentoring factors on the Objective entrepreneurial outcomes. The study recommends that the Kenyan government should put up frameworks of careers mentoring support that would be expected to produce objective entrepreneurial outcomes.