EXPLORING FACTORS THAT AFFECTING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG GRADUATE STUDENTS IN KENYA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to adopt and test the validity of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and explore the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among graduate students using structural equation modeling. Since most literature agreed that using Theory of Planned Behavior could determine entrepreneurial intention, this theory is used as a theoretical framework in this study. 206 graduate students of United States International University-Africa were selected as the respondents. A set of questionnaire on Entrepreneurial Intention and its antecedents, which consists of several semi-structured questions, was used for data collection. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results revealed that personal attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are the predictors of entrepreneurial intention accounting for 75%.  Personal attitude and perceived behavioral control had a positive effect on entrepreneurial intention while subjective norms had a negative effect on the same.

Keywords: Theory of planned behavior, graduate students, entrepreneurial intention, Kenya.