Library and other Administrative Departments
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Item Research data management challenges in Kenya: the case of private universities in Nairobi County(2019-09) Anduvare, E. M.; Mutula, S. M.This research paper is a spinoff from a Doctoral degree study that was carried out at the University of KwaZulu-Natal between 2017-2019. The aim of the study was to establish the role private university libraries in Nairobi, Kenya play in supporting eResearch and the challenges thereof that librarians and researchers face in the process of managing data. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative epistemological approaches with semi structured interviews and survey questionnaires to collect data from a population consisting of university librarians, faculty members and doctoral students respectively. The population was sampled purposively. The qualitative and quantitative data sets were analysed using SPSS and content analysis respectively. The findings revealed several challenges, which included among others the lack of strategies and policies to guide research data management support, the lack of integrated RDM policies, a research process that was fragmented, and limited ICT policies and infrastructures. The institutionalisation of RDM in the private universities in Kenya is therefore urgent and imperative. The findings have policy, practical and theoretical implications for the effective RDM in Kenyan private universities in order to enhance scientific and scholarly communications. While the focus of the study limits generalisation of the findings, other universities may gain insights on RDM challenges within university settings.Item Teachers’ and students’ perceptions about form one placement of students in public secondary schools in Mumias Division, Kakamega County, Kenya(General Studies, 2013) Okello, Jacklyne Alari; Migosi, j.; Evusa, Z.The study was geared towards establishing teachers and students perceptions about Form One placement of students in public secondary schools in Mumias Division, Kakamega County, Kenya. The study targeted all teachers, students, guidance and counseling teachers and principals from public secondary schools in Mumias division. The literature revealed that quality student placement at all levels is very critical. The study employed a descriptive survey and phenomenological research designs and was conducted in 4 sampled public secondary schools in Mumias Division. Stratified and simple random sampling procedures were used to select the schools. A sample of 170 Form One and Form Two students, 20 teachers, 4 guidance and counseling teachers and 4 principals from the 4 public secondary schools participated in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires for students and teachers and semi structured interview guides for guidance and counseling teachers and principals. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 and presented using frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data were analyzed, discussed in accordance with research questions and reported in narrative form. The findings revealed that both teachers and students concurred that public secondary school placement of students is affected by other factors such as family background and parental involvement in education. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education (MoE) should review the new form one selection criteria so that the selection and admission of students should be fair and just based on merit in consideration of the students choices of schools. The study suggested that a comparative study be carried out on the student involvement in secondary school placement of students in private and public secondary schools.Item Challenges facing Academic Libraries in Supporting Webometrics Ranking of Universities in Kenya(African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 2019) Wamahiga, M. George; Kwanya, Tom; Ndegwa, LucyWebometrics refers to the study of the quantitative aspects of the creation and usage of information resources, structures and technologies on the web drawing on bibliometric and infometric approaches. Across the world, libraries are committed to providing equal and rightful access to information. Therefore, libraries play a major role in influencing Webometrics ranking of universities across the world. Academic libraries influence Webometrics ranking through generation of scientific publications and other scholarly resources. Despite the remarkable success in Academic libraries’ influence on Webometrics ranking, there are a number of setbacks facing these libraries in the effective facilitation of Webometrics ranking. This study examined the challenges facing academic libraries in supporting Webometrics ranking of universities in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed research design. The researcher collected data from a representative sample of 30 % of the entire target population in University of Nairobi, Chuka University and Kirinyaga University. The selection of the three universities was based on the most recent Webometrics rankings. The respondents were drawn from library, ICT and research Departments. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics that is frequency distribution tables to compute mean. The study established that Bureaucratic and connectivity barriers as well as substandard research and inadequate knowledge on Webometrics are the key challenges facing Kenyan academic libraries in supporting improved webometrics ranking. The findings of this study may be used by other institutions of higher learning on the mechanisms they can adopt to increase the capacities of their academic libraries so as to improve the contribution of these libraries to Webometrics and consequently to the overall ranking of the individual universities nationally and internationally. The findings may also help policy makers and policy implementers to effectively understand the challenges facing academic libraries in supporting Webometrics ranking of universities in Kenya and hence improve opportunities for upscaling Webometrics in academic institutions.Item Electronic Records Management Strategies by Government Agencies in Kenya(Record and Library Journal, 2019-09-30) Limo, Jonathan; Kwanya, Tom; Chepchirchir, SallyBackground of the study: With the advancement in technology, government agencies generate, receive or use records in electronic formats. There is need to develop appropriate strategies to manage these electronic records effectively. An electronic records management strategy must be aligned to the agency’s legal mandate as well as reflect best records management practices and technological options. Purpose: This chapter explores the extent to which government agencies in Kenya apply electronic records management strategies in regard to legal framework, long-term preservation, metadata, file naming and file formats, and digital media storage. Method: Additional data was collected through a review of relevant literature. The data was analysed and presented using descriptive statistics. Findings: The findings indicate that the Government of Kenya recognises electronic records as valuable. The study leading to this chapter was conducted as an online survey through which data was collected from records managers working in 90 government agencies who are members of the Network of Library & Information Professionals in Kenya. The link to the online questionnaire, hosted on Google Forms, was circulated through the network’s administrator. 38 officers successfully filled the forms. Conclusion: It has developed and deployed several policies and legislation to enhance the management and use of electronic records for posterity. However, the government lacks facilitative structural and budgetary provisions to implement these effectively.Item An Analysis of Indigenous Knowledge Legislation and Policies in Kenya(2016-08) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kwanya, TomSince the dawn of history, humanity has always sought more knowledge to feed families, stay healthy, argue with neighbours, and understand the immediate environment, among other issues. Before scientific approaches of knowledge discovery emerged, local ways of solving problems were already strongly established. These ways have persisted to date and comprise what is known as indigenous knowledge (IK). As society scientifically developed, IK became a neglected area whose potential as a resource in development was forgotten. This neglect has led to myriad socioeconomic challenges affecting food security, environmental conservation, health and social cohesion, among others. Therefore, the need to rediscover and mainstream IK in development is great. This need is anchored on the understanding that IK is the basis for local-level decision making in agriculture, healthcare, food preparation, education, natural-resource management, and a host of other activities. One of the perspectives of enhancing the creation, use and perpetuation of IK is enactment of facilitative policies and legislation. This chapter analyses the IK legislation and policies in Kenya and the extent to which they have been implemented and thereafter recommends strategies which can be used to enhance the impact of IK in socioeconomic development in Kenya. Data that informed the study leading to this chapter were collected through content analysis of the existing IK policies and legislation. Additional data were collected through key informant interviews with information science professionals and policy makers. The study revealed that several legislative and policy provisions on the regulation, preservation, management, use and development of indigenous knowledge exist in Kenya. However, there are many gaps in the content and implementation of these provisions which should be addressed to enhance their impact on the promotion, growth and perpetuation of indigenous knowledge in Kenya. The findings here may be used by information practitioners, policy makers and communities to enhance the creation, use and impact of IK.Item Assessment of Reengineered Library Services and Spaces for Improved User Experience in Universities in Kenya(Journal of Arts & Humanities, 2019-04) Musangi, Penninah S.; Odero, Damaris; Kwanya, TomInnovation and transformation have been synonymous with the library environment, as they strive to rethink the services they offer amidst the changing information landscape. This paper assesses the reengineered library services and spaces in universities. The paper demonstrates how university libraries in Kenya have reengineered their services and spaces variably in order to cope with the changes in the information landscape and for improved user experience. However, despite the strides made by libraries in responding to the changes in information landscape, there is reported mixed user experience on the reengineered services and spaces. A multiple case study approach of six purposively selected private and public university libraries in Kenya based on Webometric ranking as an indicator of reengineering was used. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 30 librarians and 25 focus groups of students. The study established that university libraries have reengineered their services to respond to the changes and nurture a competitive advantage, but users still associate libraries with the traditional services. Additionally, reengineering has not had an effect on the satisfaction levels and usage of the library. The authors conclude that reengineering library services and spaces in universities has not improved user experience. The study recommends continuous reviews of the reengineered services for improvements or redesign; involvement of library users in the redesign of the services, and promotion of the reengineered services.Item Maximising the socioeconomic value of indigenous knowledge through policies and legislation in Kenya(Emerald insight, 2018) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kwanya, Tom; Kamau, AlicePurpose – Indigenous knowledge (IK) is the anchor of survival and stability for indigenous communities. The purpose of this study was to establish how the socioeconomic value of IK can be maximised in Kenya througheffectiveenactmentandimplementationofrelevantpoliciesandlegislation. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed methods research using a survey design. The target population comprised 104 top- and middle-level managers drawn from organisations implementing diverse IK policies and legislation. Primary data were collected from the target population using questionnaires.Additional data were collected using content analysis of IK policies and legislation.The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of IBM’s Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSSVersion22)software. Findings – The findings revealed a low awareness of the IK policies and legislation by the stakeholders. It also became evident that the policies and legislation relevant to IK are not implemented effectively. The authors conclude that policies and legislation do not maximise the socioeconomic value of IK in Kenya. Originality/value – This is an original study which has practical implications for the use of IK for socioeconomic purposes. The findings of the study may be used to influence policy formulation and implementation; theory on IK; and practices which mainstream IK in socioeconomic activities in Kenya and beyond.