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    Effectiveness of Reference Management Software in Enhancing Research Quality in Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (SCECSAL, 2024-04) Kairigo, Samuel; Anduvare, Everlyn
    Reference management software (RMS) application is highly emphasised in academic research to improve research quality. However, studies raise concerns about their effectiveness since they have errors in functionality, language limitations, and inaccuracy of the citations and references generated. This study aimed to establish how effective RMS is in improving research quality. The study objectives were to investigate what reference management software is in use in the universities in Nairobi County, Kenya and to establish if reference management software programmes are effective in enhancing the quality of research in the selected universities. The study adopted a descriptive research design. This assisted the researchers in gathering data through a survey where an online questionnaire was administered to 18 respondents. All the universities within the County of Nairobi constituted the target population. The unit of analysis was the University Librarians because of their crucial role in promoting research quality in Kenyan Universities. In the analysis, insights were derived using a computer-based statistical package for social science (SPSS). The study revealed high satisfaction with RMS, particularly in terms of necessity, visual appeal, integration capabilities, and automatic formatting of references. While University librarians reported ease of navigation, there was limited awareness of alternative referencing approaches. Continuous institutional training programs for librarians and researchers on RMS usage, covering basic and advanced functionalities, are recommended.
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    The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa
    (CSSALL Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 2024) Mutula, Stephen M. (Editor)
    Preface World-historical events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, and the fall of ideologies such as apartheid, opened borders for world travel and the global movements of people, like seldom before. Often driven to move away from drought and disaster-prone geographical areas, some people also move to new countries in search for better education, working, or health opportunities. For whichever decisions people move, and especially when they move with their immediate family, such movements themselves are often perilous, in addition to which one then has to set up a home, and become a member of the population of the new country of adoption. Conceptualised by the late Katie Mutula, these two volumes of The Diasporean, are together, simultaneously, a prime sample of research excellence and, the power of inter-, and multidisciplinary research, focused on such a fluid social and historical phenomenon as human movement, migration, as well as challenges that accompany our diaspora communities of the world. The Diasporean I: The Southern African Perspectives, covers five main sections, all together presenting 11 exceptional chapters. The main topics covered are, • financial integration, that covers issues related to financial development dynamics in both home and host countries, and access to credit; • xenophobia and Afriphobia in the contexts of increasing forms of local nativisms and populist xenophobia on social media; and family language policies of home country languages; • feminisation and gendered roles in migration, within transnational relations; how it impacts family life, and how diasporean experiences are also in themselves gendered, in the transnational space; and • the significance of technology and skills transfer for developing sustainable livelihoods, and also the significance of education, in this context, especially postgraduate education. • The final chapter in The Diasporean I, covers food security challenges that migrants experience in South Africa. The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa, likewise cover five main thematic focuses. These are, the study of existing diaspora policy in Africa, including how these determine challenges concerning ‘capital structure’ and the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, as well as philanthropy in rural areas; • Foreign remittances bring data and related arguments to the fore, on the impact of COVID-19 on remittances, the nature, size and scale of foreign remittances from elite migrants, and how remittances also impact rural development in home countries. • Section three develops topics on immigration policy, analyzing how diasporeans’ human dignity is harmed in how they are portrayed and framed in the press, how it impacts family structures and careers, and how repatriation or deportation are portrayed by the online press in South Africa and in Britain. • This is followed by a section on the notion of the ‘brain drain’ and skills transfer related to possibilities for multi-sectoral collaboration in the medical field, and challenges of skills transfer in diaspora contexts. • The final section on the digital economy, addresses the acceleration of the digital economies world-wide during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investment opportunities that accompany the diaspora movements of peoples. Each in its own way, but also as a two-volume collaborative research project, The Diasporean I and The Diasporean II, are comprehensive and are the result of incisive scholarship in a critical field of study both in South Africa and Africa more further afield. We are thankful, that Prof. Stephen Mutula and the team who was working with the late Katie Mutula, saw the project through to its conclusion. The project itself as well as the quality of the research for the two volumes, stand as a testimony to Katie’s character and a monument in her name on behalf of all those mentioned or not mentioned, who formed part of the project, and too, those who have passed on due to migratory experiences, and the nameless ones, who got lost at sea or in sandy deserts or forests or strange countries. Prof Johannes A. Smit, Chair: College of Humanities, Institute University of KwaZulu-Natal
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    The Surge of Africa’s Digital Economy during COVID-19: Impact on the Diaspora Communities
    (CSSALL Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 2024) Anduvare, Everlyn
    This chapter focuses on the surge in Africa’s digital economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author examines how digital technologies were adopted and used to enhance economic development during the pandemic. The research is based on a thorough literature review conducted using the Google Search Engine, focusing on literature that explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the digital economy in Africa. The reviewed literature demonstrates that the pandemic adversely affected economies in Africa and globally. Specifically, it significantly impacted Diaspora communities, particularly regarding their income and home remittances. Additionally, the literature highlights that digital technologies present an opportunity to transform business models and services across various sectors of different countries’ economies. In light of these findings, it is recommended that Diaspora communities adopt a strategic approach to create an enabling environment for adopting and utilizing digital technologies, thereby advancing their economic activities and providing a buffer against potential future shocks like COVID-19.
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    Mainstreaming Digital Platforms in Curating Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development in Kenya
    (The Technical University of Kenya, 2024) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kagoiya, Rachel
    The rapid evolution of digital platforms is an opportunity for custodians of indigenous knowledge (IK) to utilise digital spaces to enhance IK for promoting sustainable development in Kenya. IK refers to skills, systems, and practices developed and used by indigenous people over generations to sustain livelihoods, manage natural resources and preserve cultural heritage. Safeguarding IK in Kenya involves recognising, respecting, and protecting the IK for posterity. Unfortunately, indigenous communities in Kenya continue to be ignored and forgotten in policy. Therefore, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should include protecting IK. The objectives of this paper are to (i) describe the digital platforms currently used in Kenya to curate IK; (ii) analyse the effectiveness of digital platforms in preserving and disseminating IK; and (iii) propose recommendations for policymakers to consider when integrating digital platforms in curating IK and implementation of SDGs in Kenya. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Quantitative data was collected through bibliometrics analysis. Qualitative data was collected using a systematic literature review. Data was collected from Google Scholar using Harzing’s “Publish or Perish” software, analysed using Microsoft Excel, Notepad, and VOSviewer, and presented using tables, graphs, and figures. The study findings would be helpful in providing recommendations to inform policymakers on the importance of using digital platforms to curate IK for the promotion of SDGs in Kenya. The study demonstrates that digital platforms can be used to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices amongst different indigenous communities in Kenya and for policymakers to enact and review policy frameworks on the use of digital platforms to prevent IK from potential loss or exploitation. The research is original in scope and coverage. Keywords: Innovation, community-led development, human rights, emerging trends.
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    The Role of Academic Libraries in Webometrics Ranking of Universities in Kenya
    (Moi University Press, 2019) wamahiga, George M.; Kwanya, Tom
    Academic institutions now operate in highly competitive environments. Consequently, myriad mechanisms for rating the services and impact of universities have emerged as a means of influencing the choice of potential students, faculty and partners. Webometrics has emerged in the recent past as one of the most popular frameworks for measuring the impact of universities. This mechanism puts great emphasis on research productivity and dissemination. Academic libraries have developed and implemented strategies to enhance their ranking. The role and levels of involvement of academic libraries in these strategies is unclear. This study analysed the role of academic libraries in enhancing Webometrics ranking of their parent institutions. It also examined the degree to which libraries are currently involved in enhancing the Webometrics ranking of their institutions as well as how they can scale up their roles. This study was designed as an exploratory survey because webometrics is a relatively new concept. Primary data was collected through key informant interviews with academic librarians. The respondents were selected through information-oriented purposive sampling. Additional data was collected through literature review. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The study established that academic libraries in Kenya are, to a great extent, involved in webometrics strategies through the development of the institution’s repositories, generation of web content as well as publishing and providing access to updated e-resources. This involvement is effective because it facilitates enhanced scholarly communication, resolute institutional web presence, collaboration and networking among institutions, and ultimately endorsement of the institutions’ webometrics ranking. The involvement can be scaled up through effective ICT policies and infrastructure, continuous training, involvement in library consortia, and high quality content development. The findings of this study may be used by academic libraries to mainstream their role in enhancing the research productivity and impact of their institutions hence facilitating a favourable ranking.