Influence of Economic Factors on Entrepreneurial Engagements by University Students in Public Universities in Nairobi Metropolitan Region

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the influence of economic factors on entrepreneurial engagements by university students in public universities in Nairobi Metropolitan region. The research design used is descriptive survey research design. The specific location of the study was the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado in Nairobi Metropolitan region. The target population comprised of 1006 university students registered with the campus incubation hubs. The sample size was 286 respondents. Open and close-ended questionnaires were used for data collection. Analysis of data involved use of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Descriptive statistics was through the use of mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics through correlation and regression was conducted to examine possible associations between attributes of independent and dependent variables. The findings established that regression coefficient for the relationship between economic factors and entrepreneurial engagement was positive and significant. Economic factors such as access to credit, availability of market information and availability of technology had the best positive significance with entrepreneurial engagement of university students. The study recommended that there is need for aggressive campaigns through media and other platforms to militate about the importance of ensuring access to credit, availability of market information and availability of technology among others are easily available for university students to engage in entrepreneurial activities.