WGs were carrying out businesses in the areas of embroidery, boutique, tailoring and
craft-work. These MSEs formed 8 per cent of the total responses. The MSEs were mostly
undertaken by those WGs located in Kakamega town. MSEs in this category had 79 per
cent success rates. When sustainability indices were computed for specific MSEs, one
craft work project had an index of 56 and three tailoring MSEs had indices of 52, 56 and
64 (Table III). However, one tailoring project had a disappointing index of 31 per cent and
yet one group had indicated it as the most successful one. The reasons for success of these
MSEs were given as ready market for the products and availability of technical skills
(which makes the group produce high quality products). Support from the local
administration was also cited in some cases as a contributing factor towards their success.
The failure rate for this category of MSEs was computed and found to be twenty one per
cent. Factors that were cited as having contributed to the failure were: poor infrastructure;
lack of enough funds for expansion; and leadership wrangles within the groups.