Influence of Lending Procedures on Credit Accessibility amongst Small and Micro Enterprises in Kenya: A Case of Meru Town

Abstract

In Kenya, SMEs are businesses employing between 1-50 people and maybe either in formal or informal sectors and may also be in farm or non-farm categories. Due to the sector importance, Kenya has enacted several laws in support of SMEs. The SMEs require a concerted effort from both private and public since the sector draws stakeholders from both. To enhance their sustainability in the economy, the SMEs require serious empirical research in order to elicit the constraints with the goal of developing proactive remedial frameworks so that their existence may be promoted. Amongst the numerous challenges that constrain the working of SMEs is inadequate financing, thus the derivative of the overall goal of this study. The study location was Meru town. The descriptive research design was used. As per the Meru county government records, 160 SMEs are permitted and have been in operation for not less than 3 years. From every SME, one respondent was used. Census was adopted as the study design informed by the small population and the ease of reaching the respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data through a drop-pick method which was done in three days’ time. Data analysis was through descriptive methods. Data analysis was assisted by SPSS version 22 by subjection to regression analysis to establish the existence of relatedness between the dependent and independent variables. Presentation of results was done through tables. Analysis done indicated the existence of crucial relations between the process of loaning. Regression analysis results indicated the loaning procedure had a significant effect on credit accessibility among SMEs in Meru Town. It was recommended further study to be conducted to find out the other determinants of credit accessibility amongst SMEs in Meru town.