Influence of Credit Risk on the Growth of Microfinance Organizations in Eldoret Municipality (Kenya)

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2018 in the subject Economics - Finance, Moi University (Moi University, Kenya; Department of Accounting and Finance), language: English, abstract: The Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) lend small amounts of unsecured loans to poor clients which signify their objectives of improving the social status of the poor while also trying to maximize their returns. Yet, lending by MFIs is a risky venture especially in developing countries because of the susceptibility of their poor clients. This study therefore determined the extent at which strategic credit risk management affect growth of MFIs in the Eldoret Municipality, Kenya. This study used probability clustered random sampling of 12 MFIs in Eldoret municipality to collect primary data and various reports and published work on MFIs between 2010 to 2015 formed the basis of secondary data. The effect of loan default, risk coverage and credit policy on growth of MFIs was measured by profit and outreach respectively. The relationship between of loan default, risk coverage and credit policy and growth was measured using multiple linear regression models. Hausmann test of endogeneity was employed to validate the results. We demonstrate that profit was significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with credit policy but negatively correlated with default and risk coverage. Meanwhile outreach showed a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation with loan default and risk coverage but no relationship with credit policy. Thus credit risk was an obstacle to the sustainable growth of MFIs in both profit and breadth of outreach. As a result proactive strategies like enhanced management information system, effective internal control and redesigning of suitable customers¿ oriented products should be considered.