Characteristics of Microfinance Institutions' Clients in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to come up with a profile of the salient socio-economic characteristic of people who seek MFIs' services. Specifically, the study was to shed light on their poverty status, the type of economic activities they engage in and their demographic characteristics. The research focused on clients of BIMAS operating within the five divisions of Embu district. The study showed that MFI clients are mainly involved in trading enterprises that have an average age of 6.7 years, employing below 5 employees. The main source of the initial business capital is partly from saving and the majority of them contribute less than half of the household income. A majority of the businesses have temporary structures that are not located in the commercial/shopping centers

Autorentext

Simon Maina Waithaka is an experienced microfinance practitioner who has worked with several MFIs in Kenya including BIMAS and Habitat for Humanity Kenay and is currently a Lecturer at JKUAT -Nairobi.He is writing a PhD in Entrepreneurship Thesis titled "The factors that influence the Social performance of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya".