ABSTRACT
Youth enterprises are facing revenue, risks, investment practices, decision making and market share that affects the success rate in Kenya. These enterprises also experience an exponentially increasing competition based on the increase in self-employment. In order for them to become sustainable, productive and viable there is need to provide micro enterprise support. The objective of the study was to analyze micro enterprise support on the performance of selected youth enterprises in Kericho County, Kenya. The study’s specific objectives were given by micro credit, micro insurance, micro training and micro grant support mechanism in place for performance of these enterprises. The study is significant to several entities which include the government, youth enterprises and micro support institutions. It is also useful to academic institutions and scholars. The study used financial intermediation theory and information asymmetry theory. It used descriptive research design that targeting 100 youth enterprises. The research used a sampled 30 youth groups in Kericho County were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data collected from the study was analyzed using descriptive that include mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics was conducted using regression analysis. The findings indicate that accessing micro credit facilities barriers were interest rates, government policies, social and economic factors which affect the performance of youth enterprises. Micro grants and micro training have assisted to a great extent in the performance of youth enterprise. Micro insurance had no significant effect on the performance of enterprises. In conclusion, there is need to increase the amount of credit facilities advanced to the youth enterprises. Interest rates should also be reduced so that youth enterprises can be in a position to repay and become sustainable. This would improve profitable of the enterprises and hence performance. Entrepreneurship training programs targeting the youths recommended that these micro training tools should be uniquely designed to attain the needs of various youth enterprises.
