Effects of Microfinance Services on Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises: A Case of Wundanyi Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish the effects of microfinance services inaccessibility on the growth of small and medium enterprises in Wundanyi sub-county, Taita-Taveta County. The research objectives were to establish the effects of saving mobilisation services inaccessibility, crediting services inaccessibility, business information services inaccessibility and mobile banking services inaccessibility on the growth of SMES. To achieve these objectives the research used a descriptive research design. The target population was 81 retail posho mills businesses in the Wundanyi sub-county business register as at 10th may 2017. Krejcie & Morgan [1] table was used to pick the sample of 66 retail posho mills businesses. A self-administered questionnaire was used as a sole means of collecting data from the sample of 66 SMES. However, data were collected from 66 respondents who were owners of the SMES giving a response rate of 95%. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and multiple regression methods of analysis aided by the Statistical package of social science SPSS program. Based on the findings, the study concluded that savings, crediting, business information and mobile banking services inaccessibility do affect growth in sales, profit and business expansion both negatively and positively. The study recommended microfinance institutions to come up with new measures that encourage savings culture and borrowing without setting conditions that are unfavorable to the SMEs.