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Author: search.filters.author.Chepchirchir, SallySubject: search.filters.subject.Kenya

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    Intellectual Property Rights in Digital Libraries: Status, Interventions, Challenges, and Opportunities for Academic Libraries in Kenya
    (International Journal of Information Studies & Libraries, 2020) Chepchirchir, Sally; Limo, Jonathan; Kwanya, Tom
    The management of intellectual property rights in digital contexts is increasingly becoming complex. In spite of its benefits, digitisationincreases the vulnerability of digital works, thereby exposing them to violation. This paper discusses the intellectual property rights regime in Kenya; examines intellectual property rights issues academic librarians encounter in the digital information universe; examines how librarians currently safeguard intellectual property rights; and analyses the challenges that hamper the librarians’ efforts to manage intellectual property rights effectively in digital contexts. Data for this paper was collected using the Delphi approach in which a group of 18 purposively-selected academic librarians participated by responding to an online questionnaire. The authors, acting as facilitators, analysed the responses and identified areas for further discussion or clarification, leading to another round of responses. Three rounds were held before consensus was reached. Additional data was obtained through documentary analysis. The findings of the study indicate that there are both local and international legal frameworks for handling intellectual property rights in Kenya. In spite of these, intellectual property violations in the form of plagiarism, piracy, freebooting, and parody are experienced in digital academic library contexts in Kenya. Librarians are making efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights through plagiarism testing; sensitisation of library users on intellectual property rights through comprehensive information literacy programmes; enforcement of citation and referencing styles; and tracking the use of protected information materials. However, these efforts are hampered by versatile technologies making intellectual property infringement easy, lack of landmark convictions in Kenya, inadequate intellectual property rights policies, presence of orphaned works, limitations of anti-plagiarism checkers, as well as lack of coordination and standardisation in violation of intellectual property rights. This is an original study which may contribute to the on-going discourse on how best to manage intellectual property rights while enhancing the access of digital content in libraries.
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    Electronic Records Management Strategies by Government Agencies in Kenya
    (Record and Library Journal, 2019-09-30) Limo, Jonathan; Kwanya, Tom; Chepchirchir, Sally
    Background 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.
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    An Analysis of Indigenous Knowledge Legislation and Policies in Kenya
    (2016-08) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kwanya, Tom
    Since 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.
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    Maximising the socioeconomic value of indigenous knowledge through policies and legislation in Kenya
    (Emerald insight, 2018) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kwanya, Tom; Kamau, Alice
    Purpose – 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.