Improvement of industrial entrepreneurial capabilities of indigenous private enterprises, foreign investors and joint ventures

Abstract

Before 1963, the industrial sector of Kenya’s economy was predominantly European with a few local Asians like chandaria family. After independence, Asians were forced to surrender commercial sub-sector of the economy, mainly retail and distribution, to Africans and were forced to migrate from Mombasa. Insecurity in the commercial sub-sector encouraged Asians to venture into the manufacturing sub-sector and today, they control at least 95% of all industries in Kenya which are not owned by either multinationals or jointly owned by the Kenya government through parastatal organizations and foreign investors. Indigenous entrepreneurs in Kenya are faced not only with financial and managerial constraints, but lack of willing trainers and business leadership. Despite the declared government’s policy of African socialism, Kenya’s economic policy remains more favorable to multinational corporations or foreign investors than to the indigenous people. For discussion purposes, let us divide indigenous entrepreneurs in Kenya into three categories, namely: infant entrepreneur, young entrepreneur and mature entrepreneur.