This study was anchored on a postpositivism paradigm and the Theory of perceived attributes and individual innovativeness, regarding the multiple serial mediations of attitudinal and behavioral competencies in the relationship between the entrepreneurs' experience and firm innovativeness. To test the hypothesized relationship a cross-sectional design and qualitative approach were employed. The study drew on a sample of 698 Micro and Small-scale entrepreneurs in Western Kenya. Questionnaires were the main data collection tools. Results indicate that entrepreneurial attitudinal and behavioral competencies had a mediating effect on the relationship between the entrepreneurs' experience and firm innovativeness among adult women entrepreneurs while among youth men were partial mediation. The direct effect of entrepreneurial experience on the level of innovativeness was significant for youth respondents but not adult women respondents. This study identifies entrepreneurial attitudinal and behavioral competencies as critical inputs for enhancing firm innovativeness hence, appropriate supportive policies and programmes are required.

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to examine gender group differential effects on entrepreneurship in western Kenya. The study provides an understanding of the entrepreneurial contextual factors influencing Women and Youth entrepreneurship. The study was undertaken in Bungoma and Uasin Gishu Counties which were Project sites for Sustainable Approach to Livelihood Improvement project in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach-A survey methodology was designed to collect primary data on the entrepreneurship of women and youth owned small enterprises. Data was collected and analysed with the assistance of Kruskal Wallis test. Findings-The results show that the hypotheses were supported on gender group differential effects on the socioeconomic profiles, on the nature of firm profile and on entrepreneurial profiles. The study concludes that gender group differential effects on various variables were statistically significant. Gender differences between adult Women and youth categories were statistically significant on most aspects, while within the youth group there were no differences. Research limitations/implications-Limitations of this study werefirstly, reliance on a sample instead of undertaking a complete census and secondly, relying on self-reported data. Practical implications-This paper will be of practical value to entrepreneurs, policy-makers and practitioners interested in the complex interactive relationship between women and youth entrepreneurship. Originality/value-The methodological framework developed for this study constitutes a foundation for extending and developing literature on gender differential effects on entrepreneurship research