Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of financial inter-mediation on business performance. The study was carried out on women owned micro and small enterprises in Kisii Municipality. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study sought to : assess the extent to which financial intermediaries intermediates between savers and borrowers, to assess the level of business performance of micro and small women owned enterprises and ; to assess whether financial intermediation has an effect on business performance on women owned MSEs in Kisii Municipality. The target population of the study was 150 women owned enterprises in Kisii Municipality (Equity Bank, Kenya Women Finance Trust and Kenya Rural Enterprise-Loan Programme beneficiaries). Random sampling procedure was adopted to sample 108 respondents who participated in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics techniques which include frequency tables, percentages and summated averages. A likert scale was used to identify the extent to which financial intermediation influences business performance on women owned MSEs in Kisii Municipality. Microfinance loans, bank loans and co-operative loans were the most preferred sources of finance by the women entrepreneurs. Data were analysed using the statistical software package for social sciences. The study findings are useful to the women entrepreneurs who will plan and manage their businesses effectively. The study will also help financial intermediaries and policy makers to formulate appropriate policy framework to guide in the management of registered micro and small women owned enterprises and women entrepreneurship in the country and will also add to the already existing literature on financial inter-mediation.
