Factors Influencing Intention To Create Social Ventures In Kenya

Abstract

Social enterprises are increasingly finding recognition for their economic, social and environmental contribution to society and a wealth of social entrepreneurship research is now emerging. Recent studies have suggested two theories are important in understanding social entrepreneurship: Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) and Shapero’s entrepreneurial event (SEE). This study brings a convergence of Miller’s compassion model and the entrepreneurial intentions model (EIM) to explain formation of social entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Kenya. The aim of this paper is to stimulate interest in social entrepreneurship among Kenyan scholars, as well as test the efficacy of a social entrepreneurial intentions model that incorporates compassion as an antecedent. Drawing evidence from a sample of 371 students sampled from four (4) Kenyan universities – two private and two public – the study found attractiveness to a social venture, perceived behavioral control, and compassion for other people to be significant factors influencing social entrepreneurship intentions among Kenyan universities students. The findings are significant to entrepreneurship education in Kenyan universities as they expound the importance of attractiveness of social venture, perceived behavioral control and compassion promoting the transition of university graduates into the world of social entrepreneurship.