The purposes of this study aimed at examine the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance of SMEs in Uasin Gishu County. The research questions were; what is the relationship between innovation and performance of women owned SMEs in Uasin Gishu County?, what is the relationship between proactiveness and performance of women owned SMEs in Uasin County?, what is the relationship between risk taking and performance of women owned SMEs in Uasin Gishu County? This study adopted a correlation research design, with the target population comprised of 81 women owners of all small and medium enterprises within Uasin Gishu County. Questionnaire was the main tool of data collection. Questionnaires were administered with the help of research assistants. Chi-square was computed to establish the association between entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and performance. The study found out that innovation X2 (73) = 0.829 p = 0.032, proactiveness X2(73) = 0.716 p = 0.002 and risk taking X2(73) = 0.897 p = 0.002 were significantly associated with performance. The results of this study reveal a relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The study recommended that the Department of Micro and Small-Enterprise Development (DMSED) needs to sensitize women entrepreneurs on strategies for innovation, proactiveness and risk taking in improving performance. The study further recommends that SMEs need to embrace entrepreneurial orientation dimensions: Innovation, proactiveness and risk taking for their businesses to grow. Therefore, women entrepreneurs should be innovative, proactive to acquire new market opportunities and take risks to succeed in a dynamic environment.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Orientation, Performance of SMEs
