Women Entrepreneurs And Trade-Related Conflict In Kenya: Case Of Kisii County Open-Air Markets, Kenya

Abstract

In the world today entrepreneurship has emerged as a platform for gainful employment. One of the emerging set up for small income generating activities is the open-air market. Open air markets play a key role by allowing many small traders and middle-income earners to participate in business, mingle and interact as they carry out their entrepreneurial activities. However, in doing these entrepreneurial activities to sustain themselves and contribute to the livelihood of their families, there are several trade related conflicts that emerge which have long standing implications. This study therefore sought to find out the impact of women entrepreneurial activities in open-air markets on trade related conflict in Kisii County, Kenya. This study was based on the following objectives: to find out the women entrepreneurial activities that contribute to different types of trade-related conflicts in the Kisii County open-air markets; to explore women entrepreneurship and the impact resulting from trade-related conflicts in Kisii County open-air markets; to examine County Government strategies to curb trade-related conflicts in Kisii County open-air markets and to evaluate the level of financial and market support by institutions for women entrepreneurial activities in Kisii County open-air markets. This study employed a descriptive survey research design. The study was also based on two theories, that is, Liberal Feminism and Social Conflict theories. The study area was Kisii County of western Kenya region. The target population for this study was 1900 women who owned businesses in the sampled open-air markets within the County. The study used purposive, stratified, convenient and simple random sampling techniques to collect data from ten open-air markets, selected from each sub-county of the larger Kisii County. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, observation and interview schedules as research instruments. Piloting was essential to determine the validity and reliability of these research instruments using open-air markets outside the county (Kebirigo in Nyamira county, Oyugis in Homabay county and Rongo of Migori county). The data collected was analysed according to each objective using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis was done using descriptive statistics. In summary the findings indicated: Objective 1- Women entrepreneurial activities cause trade-related conflicts such as disputes over spatial space, tax and in merry-go-round activities; objective 2- prevalent sociocultural and socioeconomic issues were major impacts of trade-related conflict; objective 3- county government strategies included provision of clean water, sewerage system and lighting; objective 4- financial and market support offered by institutions for women entrepreneurs focused on entrepreneurial training, financial support and conflict resolution. In conclusion, women entrepreneurs contribute to trade-related conflict as they face a number of conflicts from other stakeholders. However, the County is trying to improve open markets by decentralization of markets and provision of lighting. This study recommends that the county to works with other partners, comes up with new plans with clearly defined policies and involve market users through consultative forums to implement the agreed policies.