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This research work involves a profile characteristics of Small and Micro Enterprises in Voi Municipality, Kenya. A thorough literature review was undertaken before coming up with research questions and hypothesis that was used to guide the research study. The main variables of the study were drawn from factors that affect the performance of small and micro enterprises such as social demographics, business ownership, business financing and government laws and regulations. It is evident that majority of Small and Micro Enterprises face similar challenges in both developed and developing countries. This study employed cluster random sampling which was found to be relevant due to the different types of business activities on which small and micro entrepreneurs are engaged in are unable to be reached out to by the diverse products offered by these microfinance institutions despite their notable presence in Taita Taveta County. The findings indicate that form of business ownership, nature of financing, government laws and regulations and socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, level of education and business location affect the performance of Small and Micro Enterprises in Voi.

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Ms. Nancy C Changeiywo (CPA-2) is the Credit Officer, Kenya Industrial Estates Limited, Voi, Kenya. She holds MBA (Strategic Management) and B.Com (Banking and Finance) from JKUAT and Egerton universities while Dr. Bernard K. Rop (Ph.D. Petroleum Geologist) and Mr. Bellah Chepkulei (Ph.D. Business Management Student - Moi University) are lecturers.

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