Challenges Facing Informal Cross-Border Women Traders and Potential Management Opportunities in Busia and Isebania Borders-Kenya

Abstract

Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is an integral part and unrecognized component of Africa’s economy which has persisted despite the effort to graft it into a formal economy globally. An important observation is that women are the dominant players in all ICBT activities, accounting for more than 60%. This study endeavors to examine the challenges facing informal cross-border women traders(ICBWTs) and the potential management opportunities in Busia and Isebania Borders Kenya. They adopted a mixed research method and a cross-sectional design. Data was collected through interview schedules, questionnaires, and observation which were analyzed quantitatively through descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analyzed and presented thematically. The study found that the challenges were; inadequate capital, harassment by border officials, corruption, insecurity, high transportation cost, sexual and gender-based violence, self-seeking states, and confiscation of goods. This study recommends that states within the EAC should strive toward embracing women-friendly formalization approaches to reduce informal cross-border trader activities which have risks to women.