Introduction
Kenya has a vibrant entrepreneurial base with the potential of becoming competitive globally. There is a shift from manufacturing to a flexible labor based economy, a phenomena commonly referred to as knowledge based economy (Formica, 2005). Entrepreneurship as a whole contributes to social-economic wealth by creating new markets, new industries, new technology, new institutional forms, new jobs, and net increases in real productivity (Ngugi, 2014). Despite the vital role entrepreneurship plays in the economy, there are numerous challenges facing entrepreneurship development. The Micro and Small enterprises bear the brunt of it all (Pike 2007). It is estimated that as many as 75% of small enterprises started in Kenya fail within three years of their birth. Indeed an enterprise that is more than three years old is regarded as having achieved some measure of success. Therefore, there is the need to strengthen entrepreneurship to nurture nascent entrepreneurs and achieve the goal of enterprise development.
The following are methods of strengthening entrepreneurship in Kenya:
Strengthening financial systems
The biggest challenge to entrepreneurial ventures is lack of capital to realize entrepreneurial dreams. A lack of resilient financial systems has been a hindrance to development of MSEs and hence entrepreneurship. A sound financial system therefore improves the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Private equity and venture capital are an important source of seed money. Overall, access to credit is some of the financial challenges of entrepreneurship in Kenya. Development of capital markets is the key to encouraging graduation of SMEs from ordinary small companies to public listed entities. Is the same vein, a healthy banking sector improves access to capital for startups.
Government support through policy perceived as friendly by entrepreneurs
The