Includes Index and Appendix

Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) are small businesses that are efficient in job creation, the seed of big business and the fuel of national economic engine. Research studies indicate that women owned MSEs in Kenya have not performed well and therefore not played expected role in economic development .In Kenya over sixty percent of small businesses are estimated to fail each year. Thus , this study sought to find out the factors affecting financial performance of the women owned MSEs in Imenti North Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya. Specifically the study sought to establish the effect of credit access, entrepreneurial training and business experience o financial performance of women owned MSEs. The study was guided by Human Capital theory and Pecking Order Theory. The study adopted descriptive research design and targeted a population of 469 women owned licensed MSEs comprising of retail ware stores, salons and beauty shops, apparels, food stores, bars/wines and spirits joints and M-pesa shops.The study sampled 211 women MSE owners using stratified random sampling with buiness category forming the stratum. This study used the questionnaire for data collection. Test re-test technique was employed in order to test reliability of the instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and tested hypothesis by use of multiple regression analysis.Qualitative data was analyzed thematically.The study findings indicated that majority of women MSE owners borrowings from credit lending institutions were minimal and that credit access has insignificant effect on financial performance of women owned MSEs. The study finding
also indicated that that the majority of the trainings held were held were short short term and that entrepreneurial training has insignificant effect on financial performance of women owned MSEs.The results indicated that most women MSEs owners had business experience prior to starting their own business and that business experience has a significant effect on financial performance of women owned MSEs. The study recommended that financial institutions need to create awareness among women MSE owners on available credit products from institutions and the conditions therein and the government should strive to create awareness for women enterprise fund, uwezo fund and other facilities. The study also recommended that the government should organize for training on financial aspects with a longer duration and to also assist in providing mentorship programmes for women MSE owners.